Prosper Okoye
Aba Power, Nigeria’s private electricity distribution company, says it has blacklisted a major wire and cable supplier after the firm failed to deliver materials needed to restore power to a community in Abia State that has been without electricity for three weeks.
The outage followed a windstorm that destroyed six high-tension poles in Umuomainta Autonomous Community in Nbawsi-Nsulu, in Ngwa North Local Government Area.
The utility also apologised to residents for the continued blackout, which extended through the Easter period.
In a statement emailed to journalists on Monday, Aba Power’s Brand Communication Senior Manager, Edise Ekong, said the company was unable to reconnect supply at the weekend because the contractor failed to release wires from its store.
“We are surprised that this contracting firm could fail to provide the needed wires because its two storekeepers travelled out of town at the weekend to celebrate Easter without making any arrangement,” Ekong said.
The company did not name the supplier but said it is based in Aba.
Ekong said Aba Power had paid the contractor in full and made clear the urgency of the situation, describing the delay as unacceptable given that the community, made up of nine villages, remained without electricity during the holiday.
He said replacement poles had already been sourced from Abak in Akwa Ibom State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State due to shortages in Aba and surrounding areas, and installed while operational staff waited for three days to complete reconnection.
“We have no option than to blacklist this firm and sever all forms of business relationship with it immediately,” Ekong said.
The company said it has now procured wires from alternative suppliers at higher cost due to the holiday and expects to restore electricity to the community on Tuesday.
Aba Power thanked community leaders and residents for their support during repair efforts.
The company also warned the public to stay away from electricity poles during rainfall, citing safety concerns over ageing infrastructure installed during the Power Holding Company of Nigeria era.
According to Ekong, many of the poles, installed about 15 years ago, do not meet current technical standards.
He said Aba Power has lost more than 70 high-tension poles and over 10 low-tension poles in the past month due to windstorms and collisions with heavy-duty trucks linked to increased construction activity, including work around the Abia Airport and other development sites.
The company urged truck drivers to exercise caution around power infrastructure, warning that contact with live wires can be fatal.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
