Civil rights group, the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called for the immediate restoration of electricity to the Aba Ring-Fence Area following a prolonged blackout caused by a disruption in gas supply to the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Osisioma, Abia State.
In a statement issued and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the civil society organisation expressed concern over the outage, which began around 6:30 p.m. on July 31, leaving the nine local government areas under the Aba Ring-Fence without electricity.
FENRAD said the blackout has severely disrupted commercial activities, healthcare services, educational institutions, manufacturing industries and the livelihoods of thousands of residents and businesses that depend on stable electricity.
According to the group, public statements from Aba Power indicated that the outage resulted from a significant drop in gas pressure caused by technical challenges affecting its gas supplier.
While acknowledging the role of the Geometric Power Project in improving electricity supply in Aba, FENRAD said the incident exposed the vulnerability of relying on a single power generation source and distribution network without adequate backup or competitive alternatives.
“The current situation once again highlights the risks of a monopolistic electricity market where a single technical failure can plunge millions of consumers into darkness,” the organisation stated.
FENRAD noted that the blackout has compounded the economic difficulties faced by Aba’s manufacturers and small businesses, many of which now depend on expensive diesel and petrol generators to sustain operations.
The organisation urged Heirs Energies, Aba Power, Geometric Power Limited, the Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA), and other relevant authorities to work together to restore gas supply and electricity without further delay.
It also called for transparent communication with consumers, including regular updates on the cause of the disruption, measures being taken to resolve it and a realistic timeline for power restoration.
Beyond the immediate crisis, FENRAD advocated a comprehensive review of the Aba Ring-Fence electricity framework, arguing that the current monopoly limits consumer choice and increases operational risks.
The group called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), ASERA, the Federal Ministry of Power and the Abia State Government to promote greater competition, infrastructure redundancy and stronger consumer protection within the electricity market.
“The FENRAD recommends increased investment in gas infrastructure, diversification of fuel supply sources, improved transmission resilience and the development of contingency measures to prevent similar outages in the future.
“Reliable electricity is essential for economic growth, public health, education and sustainable development, and we believe stakeholders should pursue long-term reforms that would ensure a resilient, competitive and consumer-centred electricity sector in Abia State.
