The Labour Party’s 2027 governorship candidate in Abia State, Hon. Ceekay Igara, has criticised Geometric Power and Aba Power Electricity Distribution Company over the prolonged power outage that has left millions of residents and businesses across the Aba Ring-Fence Area without electricity.
The blackout, which began at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026, has affected communities across nine of Abia State’s 17 local government areas, disrupting commercial activities, healthcare services, education, and manufacturing operations in Nigeria’s foremost industrial city.
According to Aba Power’s Managing Director, Ugo Opiegbe, the outage was caused by a significant drop in gas pressure from the company’s supplier, making it impossible to operate the turbines at the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant, with each turbine designed to generate 47 megawatts.
“The pressure arising from our partner’s facilities is not strong enough to power our turbines,” Opiegbe explained, adding that the company could not immediately determine when normal gas pressure would be restored.
Reacting to the development, Igara acknowledged Geometric Power’s contributions to improving electricity supply in Aba since the plant commenced operations but insisted that the recurring outages expose a major structural weakness in the company’s operations.
“Whilst acknowledging the giant strides made so far by Geometric, and also the fact that the Abia State Government has shares in the company, we therefore have a sense of ownership. Electricity is so important in a commercial and industrial hub like Aba, so the management should look for alternative sources of gas to supply their turbines in order to provide the people with electricity because businesses have been crippled,” he said.
He further urged the company to adopt a more proactive approach to power supply, stressing that consumers deserve reliable electricity after paying for the service.
“They should equally be proactive to ensure that they provide adequate power to the people since they are already paid for their services, rather than reminding them of the EEDC era of paying for services not rendered,” Igara added.
Growing Concerns Over Single Gas Supply
Igara’s position aligns with concerns previously raised by the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), which described the blackout as evidence of the risks associated with relying on a single gas supplier without a dependable backup system.
The civil society organisation noted that the prolonged outage has forced many businesses to return to diesel and petrol generators, significantly increasing operating costs for manufacturers, traders, and small businesses that had benefited from improved electricity since Geometric Power commenced operations in February 2024.
Recurring Gas Supply Challenges
This is not the first time gas supply issues have interrupted electricity generation at the Geometric Power Plant.
A similar disruption occurred in November 2025, ending more than 60 consecutive days of uninterrupted electricity supply. Earlier, in August 2024, Aba Power resorted to importing 25 megawatts of electricity from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company to maintain supply following another gas shortage.
Industry observers say the repeated disruptions highlight the vulnerability of relying almost entirely on a single gas supplier and pipeline infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Public Utilities, led by Hon. Aaron Uzodike, visited the power plant to assess the situation.
During the visit, Geometric Power Chairman and former Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, disclosed that electricity supply would likely be restored once a critical imported component—a clutch gear and starter motor for the gas pressure system arrives from Heirs Energies.
However Ceekay Igara has argued that the latest outage should not be viewed merely as a technical challenge but as a governance and accountability issue, particularly because the Abia State Government holds equity in the power project.
He maintained that government and the management of Geometric Power have a shared responsibility to ensure reliable electricity for residents and businesses, calling for immediate diversification of gas supply sources to prevent future disruptions.
As Aba continues to grapple with the prolonged blackout, residents, manufacturers, and business owners are hoping for a swift restoration of power and long-term measures that will guarantee a more resilient electricity supply system.
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