Residents in the Aba Ringfence, comprising nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State, are currently experiencing their first power outage due to an attack on the Aba Power Plant gas pipelines by vandals.
It was gathered that the vandals, searching for crude oil and petroleum products to steal, attacked the Eastern Gas Network, which supplies gas to the power station, over the weekend.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the Managing Director of Aba Power, Ugo Opiegbe, on Monday.
Opiegbe said that the development comes after 31 days of continuous power supply in the communities.
He said, “After 31 days of constant power supply, residents in the Aba Ringfence, comprising nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State, experienced their first power outage this weekend.
“We apologise for losing supplies from Heirs Energies, in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
“We deeply apologise to our numerous customers who have enjoyed continuous supply since December 17, making them the first set of electricity consumers in Nigeria to experience such service in several years.”
The Aba Power MD did not disclose the cause of the gas supply stoppage from Heirs Energies, which operates Oil Mining Licence (OLM) 17 at Owaza in Ukwa West LGA, Abia State, but reliable sources informed journalists that “vandals, searching for crude oil and petroleum products to steal, attacked the Eastern Gas Network this weekend.”
Gas and oil pipelines are frequently laid together, making it difficult for oil thieves to differentiate between them.
Opiegbe said that despite the loss of gas supply, some parts of the Aba Ringfence still have electricity.
“We quickly switched to the Niger Delta Power Holding Company for a quick fix because we don’t want our cherished customers, who have been expressing satisfaction with our service since December, to be without
power.
“The problem we are facing is that not all of them are benefiting from the NDPHC supplies because the supply is limited.”
He further assured Aba residents, “We will not rest until consumers in all nine LGAs in our coverage area begin to enjoy uninterrupted electricity once again.”
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