NATIONAL GRID ARRIVES BENDE
For the first time in 23 years, electric power is buzzing in transformers in Bende, Abia State.
Yes. You read that correctly. The last time there was power in Bende from the National Grid was in the year 2003.
Everyone who was born in Bende after 2003 has never experienced what it means to exclaim 'Up NEPA'. Every structure erected in Bende after 2003 has never been connected to the National grid. Every single glow of electricity within Bende from 2003 till date has either been powered by generators or Solar installations.
Until one man decided that enough is enough. Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu,, Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and Member Representing Bende Federal Constituency took the bull by the horn and decided to end the negative storyline.
He confronted the gargantuan challenge head-on. The restoration of power to Bende was a huge undertaking. It involved mounting new poles and drawing high-tension wires across them for several kilometers. It involved replacement of obsolete transformers at multiple step-down points. It involved dexterous negotiations and bargaining with electricity distribution companies who insisted on legacy backlogs of accumulated sundry charges being paid.
The challenges were herculean. The financial outlay daunting. But one man decided that no challenge was too difficult to surmount in changing the fortunes of his people.
This is by no means a small project. This is a project that will cement the place of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu in the pantheon of leaders of note in the records of Bende nay Abia State.
Note that successive Governments at all levels have met the problem and left it unresolved. Note that successive Representatives of the people of Bende at all levels were not able to resolve the problem.
Until one man said ENOUGH! Whatever it takes, Bende must have light.
On Monday, January 19, 2026, Bende will be lit up because one man said let there be light. Let my people have light. And there was light.
The interesting thing about this project is that it has a two-factor authentication. Recall that just last week, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu switched on the 1,000 KVA Solar Power Grid to service Bende ring-fenced area. This particular National grid draw-down will service Bende, Ozuitem all the way to Uzuakoli. The people of Bende will have heavy-load power from the National Grid and when that is not available, they will have back-up from the Solar grid. Talk of end-to-end solution-thinking.
Imagine the impact on businesses, productivity, quality of life and life in general.
This is leadership. This is legacy.
Take a bow Utabiri Bende. Take a bow Ochiagha Isiala, nara aka Enyi Abia.
Ihe dika gi akola anyi.
Ka anyi na aga.
~ Barr.Sam Hart~
