Amid persistent instability in Nigeria’s national power grid, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says the state is taking deliberate steps to achieve energy self-sufficiency by developing local power solutions and assuming regulatory control of its electricity sector.

Speaking to journalists at the Government House in Umuahia on Thursday, Otti disclosed that the state is investing in renewable energy projects, including a pilot biogas initiative aimed at converting organic waste into electricity.

According to the governor, the pilot project is being implemented at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and is designed to harness organic waste to generate clean energy that could supply power to parts of the state, particularly within the Umuahia electricity ring-fence.

He explained that the programme would reduce waste disposal challenges while providing an alternative and sustainable source of electricity.

Otti also confirmed that the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority formally assumed responsibility for regulating electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within the state on December 24, following the transfer of oversight from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

As part of efforts to deepen control over the power sector, the governor said negotiations for the acquisition of electricity distribution assets in the state had been concluded, noting that the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company had accepted the state’s offer and that arrangements were underway to settle the agreed payment.

He said the move would allow Abia to independently regulate its power infrastructure and reduce its exposure to nationwide power failures, adding that parts of the state had remained unaffected during recent national grid collapses due to existing local power assets.

Otti noted that the planned acquisition of the Umuahia ring-fence was progressing steadily, describing it as a key component of the state’s broader strategy to achieve energy independence, similar to the Aba Power model.

Nigeria has experienced several national grid collapses in recent months, resulting in widespread blackouts across the country. On Tuesday, the grid reportedly failed again, marking the second collapse within four days.