In March 2023 President Muhammadu Buhari signed a constitutional ammendment bill into law and part of the ammendments was that states could generate, transmit and distribute electricity in places that were covered by the National Grid.
In June 2023, President Tinubu signed an ammendment to the Electricity Act into law. The new law allows states to issue licenses to companies to generate, transmit and distribute electricity within their states. The law says that the states must first enact a law to regulate electricity generation, transmission and distribution before they can take over the regulatory functions of the NERC.
Yesterday, I signed the Abia State Electricity Bill into law, marking a significant step toward ensuring stable and independent power for our state. The law gives the Abia State Government the authority to establish the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) and regulate its electricity market.
Our administration is committed to expanding electricity access across all local government areas (LGAs), especially the remaining eight LGAs not yet covered under the Aba ring-fenced area. By integrating them into the Umuahia ring-fenced area, we are working to ensure that every part of Abia has reliable power. The legislation will unlock new investment potentials, enhance renewable energy initiatives, and align with our long-term vision of positioning Abia as a leading regional power hub.
I appreciate the commitment of members of the Abia State House of Assembly, under the exemplary leadership of Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, in ensuring the careful and successful passage of the bill. I am equally grateful to our development partners for their steadfast support. May God continue to bless Abia State.
Kelex Ofoedu is the official photographer of Governor Alex Otti.
Kelex Ofoedu @iam_kelex
Governor Otti Celebrates the One Who Helped Secure Abia’s New Era
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Nnenna Oti, who declared Governor Alex Otti the winner of the 2023 general election, deserves to be celebrated. If not for her unwavering integrity and faith in God, she could have been compromised. Despite immense pressure and attempted bribery to manipulate the results in favor of the ruling party at the time, Prof. Oti stood firm. Thanks to her courage, Abia is in the right hands today.
We traveled over two hours to celebrate her daughter’s wedding in Ebonyi State. Even though the journey was long and exhausting, it was absolutely worth it to honor Prof. Oti—a truly great woman!
Listen to what Governor Otti had to say! Watch, enjoy, and share. Remember, a good name is better than riches.
Congratulations to the couple, Oge and Ugo!
Meanwhile, what did you like most about the video?
Governor Otti Celebrates the One Who Helped Secure Abia’s New Era
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Nnenna Oti, who declared Governor Alex Otti the winner of the 2023 general election, deserves to be celebrated. If not for her unwavering integrity and faith in God, she could… pic.twitter.com/gNPOlTOjhM
aycorporat: Never knew that the name of the bridge is called Independence bridge or Mekwen (don't know what Mekwen means). Thanks baba Naptu for the information
There are many variations of that name (for example, Corona School is on Mekunwen Road in Ikoyi), but it is believed that they all came from this man's name.
Mr. Frederick Sigismond McEwen was born in Lagos to Sierra Leonean parents with Caribbean roots but who identified with the Sierra Leonean Krio community. McEwen's grandfather (John Baptist McEwen) was a missionary from Grenada who married the daughter (Margaret Rosetta Morgan) of a Barbadian who settled in Sierra Leone.. McEwen's father (Joseph Reginald Powell McEwen) migrated to Lagos where he worked in the Civil Service.
However, Mr Mcewen was an incredibly patriotic Nigerian. He gave up his Sierra Leonian passport in favour of Nigerian citizenship. He was arrested in 1953 for protesting against the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation (he believed that Nigeria should have been independent and had its own indigenous head of state).
Mr Mcewen was a member of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and in fact he was the national secretary of the party. He also worked at the African Continental Bank, which was set up by associates of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and was later taken over by the Eastern Region Government.
Mr Mcewen was briefly the chairman of the Lagos City Council (after the resignation of Chief Adeyemi Lawson) and in fact he was the chairman of the council at the time that Nigeria gained its independence.
Mr Frederick Sigismond Mcewen died in 1996. Mcewen Road in Yaba is named after him and it is also believed that Mekunwen Road in Ikoyi was also named after him.
LASG ROLLS OUT DIVERSION PLAN FOR INDEPENDENCE BRIDGE REPAIRS
The Lagos State Government has rolled out a diversion plan ahead of the emergency repairs of the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS route), scheduled from Wednesday, 19th March, to Monday, 26th May, 2025.
During the repairs, the section of the road from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge down to Independence Bridge will be closed to vehicular movement. Similarly, the service lane at Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge inbound Independence Bridge will not be available for motorists. However, the service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe will be open to traffic.
Consequently, the following alternative routes have been mapped out for motorists:
FROM AHMADU BELLO WAY INBOUND RING ROAD
Motorists heading to Victoria Island from Ahmadu Bello Way are advised to use Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, and proceed to Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access Ring Road to continue their journeys.
TRAFFIC FROM AHMADU BELLO WAY TO THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE
Motorists from Ahmadu Bello Way heading to Third Mainland Bridge should go through Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, then link Alfred Rewane Road to Osborne Road, and connect to Ring Road to reach their destinations.
TRAFFIC FROM AHMADU BELLO WAY TO INNER MARINA/CMS
Motorists heading to Inner Marina and CMS from Ahmadu Bello Way will be diverted to Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street to connect Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access J.K. Randle Road/King George V Road to reach their desired destinations.
TRAFFIC FROM INNER MARINA/CMS TO AHMADU BELLO WAY
Motorists heading to Ahmadu Bello Way from Inner Marina/CMS will have through-traffic access.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, reassured Lagosians that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will manage traffic flow along the aforementioned routes for the duration of the project.
ADVISORY: - Motorists are implored to be patient as the Partial closure is part of the traffic management plans for the rehabilitation works on the asphalt pavement of the road sections by the Federal Ministry of Works (Office of the Federal Controller, Lagos).
Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation
Independence Bridge (aka Mekwen Bridge) is that bridge that connects Marina/Onikan on Lagos Island to the Bonny Camp/Ahmadu Bello Way area on Victoria Island.
The lanes that carry traffic from Victoria Island to CMS/Marina/Onikan on Lagos Island will be closed, but the lanes that carry traffic from Lagos Island to Victoria Island will not be closed.
Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi is the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation.
Oluwaseun Osiyemi @seunosiyemi_
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT: MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION PRESS RELEASE
TRAFFIC DIVERSION FOR INDEPENDENCE BRIDGE REPAIRS
The Lagos State Government has announced a traffic diversion plan for emergency repairs on the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS) from Wednesday, 19th March, to Monday, 26th May, 2025.
*Affected Routes:*
Full closure: National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge to Independence Bridge.
Service lane closure: Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge (inbound Independence Bridge).
Open lane: Service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe.
*Alternative Routes:*
To Ring Road: Use Ozumba Mbadiwe → Akin Adesola → Falomo Roundabout → Obafemi Awolowo Road → Ring Road.
To 3rd Mainland Bridge: Use Ozumba Mbadiwe → Akin Adesola → Alfred Rewane → Osborne → Ring Road.
To Inner Marina/CMS: Use Ozumba Mbadiwe → Akin Adesola → Falomo Roundabout → Obafemi Awolowo Road → J.K. Randle/King George V Road.
From Inner Marina/CMS to Ahmadu Bello Way: Full access.
LASTMA will manage traffic throughout the project. Motorists are urged to be patient as the closure supports Federal Ministry of Works' rehabilitation efforts.
E-Signed, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation 16th March, 2025
Politics › Re: Alex Otti Signs Abia Electricity Bill Into Law by naptu2(op): 1:50pm On Mar 18, 2025
