The Abia State House of Assembly has passed H.A.B 23: The Abia State Electricity Bill, 2024 into law. The passage of the Bill took place during yesterday’s plenary session following its consideration in the Committee of the Whole and its third reading.
The Bill, sponsored by the Majority Leader of the House and Member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, was initially presented on September 3, 2024, when it passed its first and second readings before being committed to the House Committee on Power, Public Utilities, and Water Resources for further legislative scrutiny. The committee, chaired by Hon. Aaron Uzodike, submitted its report on January 28, 2025, recommending an accelerated passage of the Bill.
Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu highlighted the key benefits of the Bill, which seeks to:
1) Establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for efficient operations, investment, and innovation in the Abia State electricity market.
2) Introduce policies and a licensing regime to enhance power generation, transmission, and distribution in the State.
3) Promote Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to attract investment in the electricity sector.
4) Protect the interests and welfare of electricity consumers in Abia State.
Upon assent by the Governor, the law will take effect on February 4, 2025.
In addition to passing the electricity bill, the House also introduced two new bills during the plenary session.
H.A.B 1: The Abia State Road Traffic and Safety Management (Amendment 2) Bill 2025 and
H.A.B 2: The Abia State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Bill 2025 Both bills, sponsored by Hon. Anthony Chinasa Abiola (Umuahia Central), passed their first reading.
The House has mandated its Committee on Boundary and Security Matters to collaborate with Deputy Governor Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, who chairs the Abia State Boundary Committee, to engage with the Akwa Ibom State Government in addressing a recent boundary dispute. This decision followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance presented by Hon. Isienyi Boniface (Ikwuano State Constituency) regarding the killing of a man from Ariam Usaka on February 2, 2025, and the destruction of properties due to a boundary conflict between the people of Ariam Usaka in Ikwuano LGA and the neighboring Obot Akara community in Akwa Ibom State.
The House has also tasked its Committee on Boundary and Security Matters with investigating a petition from the Amaegbu Community Development Association of Ikenyi Autonomous Community, Lekwesi Umunneochi. The community petitioned the House over alleged land encroachment by Agogu Tyson Rock International Limited, a mining firm operating in Amate Isiagu, Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State. The petition was read by the Deputy Majority Leader and Member Representing Umunneochi State Constituency, Hon. Ume Mattias.
In a bid to boost food production and enhance agricultural earnings, the House has urged the State Government to encourage and promote mechanized farming. This motion was championed by Hon. Lewis Chinemerem Obianyi (Ukwa East), who emphasized the need for improved farming methods to increase productivity and economic benefits for farmers.
With no further business, the House adjourned and scheduled its next plenary session for Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM.
