Abia State Governor Alex Otti has announced that the state is pursuing complete energy self-sufficiency amid ongoing instability in Nigeria’s national power grid.

The governor emphasized that Abia is shielding itself from nationwide blackouts through targeted investments in renewable energy sources, particularly the conversion of organic waste, and by establishing full local regulatory authority over its electricity sector.

Speaking to journalists at the Government House on Thursday, Otti highlighted a key initiative: the launch of a pilot biogas programme at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

He said, “We’re launching a pilot biogas programme at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The whole idea is to turn waste into clean energy and provide Abia with renewable energy from biogas.

“This is a pilot programme. Instead of the organic waste that we are disposing, we can turn it with this technology into clean energy, and we will be able to power a whole lot more places, particularly the Umuhaia ring-fence.”

Otti further stated that the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority (ASERA) formally assumed control of power regulation from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on December 24, 2025.

He added that negotiations for the state to acquire relevant assets from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which oversees power distribution in Abia, have been concluded successfully.

Otti said, “I had reported earlier that our offers to EEDC have been accepted, and we are in the process of raising the funds to pay off EEDC.

“On the 24th of December, the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority took over the regulation of power from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. So everything about distribution, generation, and transmission is going to be regulated within the state.

“The whole idea is to ensure energy sufficiency and independence in the state, just like the Aba Power provides power for the Aba ring-fence.”

Recent months have witnessed repeated national grid failures in Nigeria, resulting in widespread blackouts across the country.

Otti pointed out that Abia’s proactive steps in securing localized power infrastructure have already demonstrated results, protecting parts of the state from these disruptions.

“I am sure you would have been aware that some of the disasters that happened recently, our state was not affected, because a whole part of our power assets is within our authority,” he said.

“That is the whole idea of acquiring the whole Umuahia ring-fence. I am happy we are making a lot of progress in that area”, he added.

The national grid experienced another collapse on Tuesday, marking the second such incident within four days.