Abia Government Raises Alarm Over Vandalism of Electricity Infrastructure

The Abia State Government has raised the alarm over the increasing vandalisation of government property, particularly electricity infrastructure, warning that the damage is placing additional financial pressure on the state.

The government said vandals were undermining efforts to restore electricity supply to communities by destroying power installations that had already been completed in some areas.

Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the state had expressed concern over the destruction of power projects and called on security agencies, traditional rulers and presidents-general of town unions to develop stronger strategies to curb the problem.

“The state government has expressed dismay at the rate of destruction of government property, particularly the vandalisation of power project across the state which disrupt the flow of electricity,” Kanu said.

He added: “Presidents general of town unions, traditional rulers and security agencies are advised to devise new strategies in curbing the menace.”

The state government has been pursuing several electricity restoration projects across Abia. Its Ministry of Power and Public Utilities lists rehabilitation and restoration works in several communities, including projects involving vandalised transformer substations and transmission lines.

Meanwhile, Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday, dismissed concerns that residents of the World Bank Housing Estate in Umuahia would be forced to install prepaid electricity meters in their mini-flats.

The government also expressed sympathy to communities affected by recent flooding, with Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, attributing the situation to climate change and human factors.

Ekeoma said government officials were visiting affected communities and distributing relief materials to residents whose lives and property were impacted by the floods.