By: Sunday Ameh
The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development has issued a formal directive to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency over persistent power outages and alleged regulatory lapses affecting residents and businesses in Aba.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and Head of Corporate Accountability and Litigation, Femisi Akande, the organisation accused Aba Power Limited Electric of prolonged service failures, infrastructure deficiencies and anti-competitive practices within the Aba Ring-Fence area.
FENRAD said its directive was anchored on the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023, as well as the transitional regulatory framework of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The group noted that residents, industries and commercial operators in Aba had endured weeks of blackout, erratic voltage supply and poor communication from the electricity provider, warning that the situation was undermining economic activities in the commercial city.
“Aba, as a critical industrial hub, cannot sustain economic productivity under such unreliable electricity conditions. The situation has now reached a threshold requiring immediate regulatory intervention backed by law,” the statement read.
Citing relevant provisions of the Electricity Act, the organisation said state regulators were empowered to enforce service standards, protect consumers and sanction erring operators.
It alleged that the current situation in Aba amounted to violations of statutory obligations, infringement of consumer rights and abuse of dominant market position.
FENRAD therefore called on ASERA to immediately conduct a comprehensive audit of Aba Power Limited Electric to assess its technical capacity, infrastructure and financial compliance.
The group also urged the regulator to impose sanctions for prolonged outages, establish performance benchmarks and issue corrective directives with clear timelines.
In addition, it called for a review of the Aba Ring-Fence licensing structure to address monopoly concerns and promote competition in line with statutory provisions.
On consumer protection, FENRAD demanded strict enforcement of fair billing and metering regulations, as well as compensation for affected customers and improved communication on service disruptions.
It further urged ASERA to enhance transparency by publishing periodic performance reports and strengthening complaint resolution mechanisms.
The organisation warned that failure by the regulator to act within a reasonable timeframe would lead to escalation, including legal action and petitions to federal oversight bodies.
“Electricity is not a privilege—it is a legal right and economic necessity. Any operator that fails to deliver while exploiting consumers violates both statutory law and public trust,” the statement added.
FENRAD also called on the Abia State Government to support the regulatory agency and ensure strict enforcement of electricity laws to safeguard the state’s economic viability.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to promoting accountability and protecting consumer rights in the power sector.
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