Aba Residents Celebrate Reliable Electricity Thanks to Aba Power

Residents of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have praised the management of Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), the electricity distribution company (DISCO) in charge of the Aba Ring Fenced Area, comprising 9 out of the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State, for improved power supply in the area. They described the city’s electricity experience once considered improbable in Nigeria’s power sector: predictable, fair and stable. For many, it marks a quiet, but significant shift in daily life and economic activity. “It is how it should be,” said Nnamdi Nwosu, a landlord and businessman in the Okpumuobo area of Aba. Nwosu, speaking during a community discussion with fellow residents, credited Aba Power’s free prepaid metering programme and improved supply for easing both household and business pressures. “Life is better when you know what you are paying for and the light is there. I have uninterrupted power supply, just the way it should be.” Similar sentiments were echoed at Nicholas Junction, where a resident, who Prefered anonymity, described an unexpected challenge brought on by consistency rather than scarcity. “The light has been constant,” she said. “I had to turn off my freezer, because everything was already frozen, and my units were running down fast, because of steady supply.” To verify these claims, a late-night drive through several neighbourhoods of Aba told its own story. From street poles to residential buildings, the steady blink of red LEDs from prepaid meters punctuated the darkness, offering visible evidence of widespread metering and homes actively consuming power well into the night. For many residents, the benefits of prepaid metering extend beyond improved supply. Ugochukwu White, a resident of Obuzor community, in Ukwa West Local Government Area, said that outages no longer provoke the frustration once common among electricity consumers. “When there is no light, it doesn’t hurt like before,” he said. “You are not billed for energy you didn’t use. That alone gives peace of mind.” Beyond household convenience, energy observers note that Aba’s experience touches on a broader national debate around electricity reform, metering transparency and decentralised regulation. For years, estimated billing, energy theft and supply uncertainty have undermined trust between consumers and distribution companies across Nigeria. Aba’s evolving model — combining near-universal metering, embedded generation and closer regulatory oversight — is increasingly viewed by residents as proof that structural challenges in the sector are not insurmountable. Edise Ekong, senior Brand and Communication Manager, APLE, said the scenes reflected deliberate and sustained investment in infrastructure. “In 2025 alone, we installed over 100,000 prepaid meters, and all together metred more than 90 percent of our customer base,” he said. “Our mission is to change the narrative of power distribution in Nigeria, and Aba is demonstrating that it can be done.” Ekong, also addressed concerns raised in December last year when parts of the Aba ring-fenced area experienced power shortages for about four days. He explained that Aba Power, as a distribution company, relies on embedded generation from Geometric Power Aba Limited. “At the time, there was a national gas crisis that affected our primary power provider. “It was beyond distribution. Once gas supply stabilised, power supply was restored. That challenge has since been resolved, and regular supply resumed,”he said. Ekong noted that following the extensive metering rollout, the company’s focus has shifted to service quality and system integrity. “Having embarked on such a massive metering drive, our priority is service improvement and protecting the infrastructure,” he said, appealing to customers to reject energy theft. “Energy theft undermines the system and ultimately hurts everyone.” Aba, though not the capital of Abia State, remains its commercial heartbeat and one of the South-East’s most important trading hubs. Residents and business owners increasingly link improved electricity supply to longer operating hours, reduced dependence on generators and renewed economic confidence. These developments are unfolding within a changing regulatory environment. On December 24, 2025, Abia State formally assumed regulatory oversight of its electricity sector, through the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency, a move expected to strengthen local accountability and consumer protection. From landlords and traders to streets glowing steadily under electric light, the prevailing mood across Aba suggests more than cautious optimism. For a city long accustomed to power uncertainty, reliable electricity is no longer spoken of as a privilege, but as a standard and one that residents are increasingly determined to defend.