Aba Power Supplies 24Hrs Electricity To About 45% of It's Customers- Chief Operating Officer, APLE

In a candid and revealing interview with men of the press this earlier today, Engineer Blessing Ogbe, the Chief Operating Officer of Aba Power, provided an update on the company’s efforts to revolutionize electricity distribution in Abia State, Nigeria. The discussion, which aired live, offered viewers a deep dive into the current challenges facing Aba Power and its bold strategies to improve service delivery amid economic and operational hurdles.

In the course of the interview, the COO of Aba Power gave clarification that the DisCo offers 24 hours electricity supply but not to its entire customers but about 45% of them.

“The answer is a clear yes. Do we have 24/7 power supply in Aba? Again I would say the answer is a yes, to some feeders, to about 45% of my feeders the answer is a clear yes.

Then to about 55% of my feeders we have band B and C band D and band E… so while we progress in ensuring that our network covers around the entire barring fence area to see that every one have this uninterrupted power supply.”

Ogbe, a seasoned engineer and business leader, reiterated Aba Power’s dedication to ensuring reliable and affordable electricity for the nine local government areas within its Aba Ring-fenced Area. “Our priority is to deliver power that businesses and households can depend on,” he stated, highlighting the company’s aggressive mass metering initiative. He revealed that Aba Power has already distributed 40,000 free meters to customers over the past year and is on track to install an additional 100,000 this year, with 11,000 installations completed in January alone.

The interview also tackled the recent tariff adjustment, a decision that has stirred debate among residents. Ogbe explained that the hike was unavoidable to align with economic conditions while meeting financial commitments to creditors. “We held off on this review for over eight months, longer than most other DisCos, to cushion our customers from economic shocks,” he said. He emphasized that Aba Power remains the only electricity distribution company in Nigeria currently rolling out such an extensive free metering program, underscoring its commitment to customer welfare.
Energy theft emerged as a major topic, with Ogbe detailing Aba Power’s intensified crackdown on illegal activities like meter tampering and cable vandalism. “Just last week, we apprehended two individuals involved in meter tampering, and we’re enhancing our monitoring of prepaid meters to safeguard our revenue and ensure fairness,” he noted. He called on the public to report such incidents, stressing that energy theft not only affects the company but also undermines community welfare.

Responding to concerns raised by some customers, including tailors in Aba who have accused the company of extortion and high bills, Ogbe firmly clarified the situation. “The tailors’ clusters are on dedicated feeders, receiving power daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We don’t estimate their bills; we follow the National Electricity Regulatory Commission’s capping order,” he said. He urged customers to engage in dialogue rather than resorting to misinformation and accused some of underreporting consumption to avoid fair billing.

Ogbe also shared his vision for Aba Power’s future, stressing the importance of innovation and adaptability. “To stay relevant, any company must innovate and prepare its team for change,” he said, pointing to recent improvements in customer service and collection efficiency under his leadership.