Abia State fights power asset theft, calls on communities for help

The Abia State Government is worried about the rising theft of government projects, especially power assets, in the state.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after the weekly Executive Council meeting on Monday, the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said this problem is affecting electricity supply and putting extra financial pressure on the government.

He stated, "Such unwholesome acts disrupt the flow of electricity while creating additional financial burdens for the state government in terms of the cost of replacing stolen or vandalised power assets."

Kanu urged the President-Generals of town unions, traditional rulers, and security agencies to come up with new ways to tackle this problem in our communities.

He added, "All relevant stakeholders are advised to take ownership of government projects in their communities, particularly those that relate to power."

Flooding Concerns

On the issue of flooding in many communities, the commissioner mentioned that there have been efforts to clear drainage systems across the state.

He said, "There have been serious efforts on the part of both ASEPA and the Ministry of Environment to clear most of the drains in the state."

Kanu explained, "They did all this before, even before the rainy season. Naturally, you know that when the rains come, somehow, floods will happen. They find their way through the community. So, the state government is working very hard to ensure that these things, their occurrences, are brought down to the barest minimum."