FENRAD raises alarm over Aba blackout, calls for end to ring-fence monopoly

Nkem Ukaegbu, Umuahia

Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called for the immediate restoration of electricity supply to Aba and its environs following a prolonged power outage triggered by a disruption in natural gas supply to the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Osisioma Industrial Layout.

FENRAD, a civil society organisation and public accountability watchdog, made the demand in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, expressing concern over the impact of the blackout on residents, businesses, industries and critical institutions within the Aba Ring-Fence.

The power outage reportedly commenced at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026, leaving the nine local government areas served by the Aba Ring-Fence without electricity.

According to FENRAD, the development has disrupted commercial activities, healthcare services, educational institutions, manufacturing operations and the livelihoods of thousands of residents and businesses that depend heavily on regular electricity supply.

The organisation said public statements by Aba Power indicated that the disruption was caused by a significant drop in gas pressure arising from technical challenges affecting its gas supplier.

While acknowledging that the immediate challenge may be linked to operational difficulties within the gas supply infrastructure, FENRAD said the consequences were being suffered by ordinary residents, small and medium-scale businesses, industries and public institutions across Aba.

The organisation urged all stakeholders involved in the generation and distribution of electricity and gas supply to immediately deploy available technical and operational resources towards restoring power to the affected communities.

Specifically, FENRAD called on Heirs Energies, Aba Power, Geometric Power Limited, Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA) and other relevant regulatory authorities to urgently collaborate to resolve the crisis.

It also demanded transparent communication from the responsible institutions, stressing that electricity consumers deserved timely information about the nature of the disruption, measures being taken to address the problem and a realistic timeline for restoration.

FENRAD noted that the latest outage had once again exposed what it described as the vulnerability of an electricity system heavily dependent on a single generation source and distribution structure without sufficient redundancy or competitive alternatives.

The organisation acknowledged the strategic importance of the Geometric Power project to Aba and commended efforts over the years to improve electricity reliability in the commercial and industrial city.

However, it argued that the current situation demonstrated the need for greater resilience within the electricity market, particularly in a major commercial and manufacturing centre such as Aba.

According to FENRAD, the economic consequences of the blackout could be enormous, given Aba’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s major manufacturing and commercial centres.

Thousands of small and medium-scale enterprises in the city rely on electricity to power machines, workshops, factories, shops and service businesses. Prolonged power outages, the organisation said, could result in lost production hours, increased operating costs and declining incomes.

FENRAD further pointed out that businesses forced to depend on diesel and petrol generators during prolonged outages would incur additional costs, with such expenses ultimately affecting the prices of goods and services.

The organisation said households were also being exposed to avoidable hardship at a time when Nigerians were already facing significant economic pressures.

Beyond the immediate restoration of electricity, FENRAD called for a comprehensive review of the structure of the Aba Ring-Fence electricity market.

It expressed concern over what it described as monopolistic tendencies within the market, arguing that excessive concentration of electricity generation and distribution arrangements could leave consumers with no viable alternative whenever a major technical or supply problem occurred.

FENRAD therefore urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), ASERA, the Federal Ministry of Power and the Abia State Government to review the existing framework with a view to encouraging competition, infrastructure redundancy and a more resilient electricity market.

The organisation said the review should not be targeted at undermining private sector investment but should instead create an environment capable of attracting responsible investors while improving service delivery and protecting consumers.

According to the group, reducing monopolistic tendencies within the Ring-Fence could promote efficiency, improve consumer choice, strengthen market resilience and reduce the systemic risks associated with dependence on a single electricity provider.

FENRAD also called on ASERA to strengthen the exercise of its regulatory responsibilities by ensuring that electricity operators comply with applicable regulations and service obligations.

It urged the state electricity regulator to intensify oversight, safeguard consumer interests and promote greater transparency and accountability in electricity service delivery across Abia State.

The organisation further called for increased investment in gas infrastructure and diversification of fuel supply arrangements to reduce the possibility of future disruptions.

It urged stakeholders to modernise gas infrastructure, strengthen transmission and distribution resilience and develop effective contingency mechanisms that could ensure continuity of electricity supply whenever a major disruption occurred.

FENRAD warned that continued dependence on a single gas supply chain, coupled with limited operational alternatives, could pose significant risks to energy security and economic stability within the Aba Ring-Fence.

The organisation stressed that reliable electricity should not be viewed merely as an economic necessity, noting that stable power supply was also essential for sustainable development, environmental protection, industrial expansion, public health, education and social wellbeing.

It maintained that residents and businesses should not repeatedly bear the consequences of institutional and infrastructure deficiencies that could be addressed through proper planning, effective regulation, coordinated investment and a competitive electricity market.

FENRAD expressed solidarity with the people and businesses of Aba during the power crisis and urged all relevant institutions to act with urgency and transparency to restore electricity supply.

It also called for long-term reforms capable of establishing a resilient, competitive, reliable and consumer-centred electricity sector in Abia State.

The organisation said resolving the immediate blackout should be accompanied by measures designed to prevent similar disruptions in the future, insisting that the people of Aba deserved a dependable electricity system that could support the city’s commercial, industrial and economic potential.