No evidence say Abia State get $5m investment for Aba power plant - Goment

Di Abia State goment don deny claims by members of di immediate past administration of di State wey tok say di state goment bin make a $5 million investment for di Aba Independent Power Plant wey Vice President Kashim Shettima commission on Monday, February 26, 2024.

Na di current Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, and di Special Adviser to Govnor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, oga Ferdinand Ekeoma make di clarification during one press conference on Tuesday.

Kanu tok say for di handover documents wey dem bin receive from di past administration of former govnor Okezie Ikpeazu, e no get any evidence to show say dem make such investment.

"At di point of handover from di previous goment , I no think say e get any existence of any relationship in terms of finance or financial commitment on di part of goment of di State for Geometric Power plant. We no suppose dey tok about wetin no dey exist," Kalu tok.

Also, oga Ekeoma tok say di state goment for even dey happy if e be true say dem get dat kind investment and stake for di power plant, "but I dey tell you say no document like dat dey".

Di controversy start afta one official for Abia State Commissioner for Trade & Investment under Ikpeazu, John Okiyi Kalu, write on Facebook say oga Ikpeazu "bin invest five million dollars, representing 5% equity holding, for Geometric Power Company".

Okiyi tok say im shock wen im hear as di CEO of di company, Prof Barth Nnaji, deny any investment by di Abia State goment and tok say "nobodi don eva give us even 1 dollar".

"I bin dey personally for di Abia State Executive Council meeting Chaired by di den Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu wia dem give approval to di Abia State Ministry of Finance to invest di sum of $5m for di Geometric Power company as payment for 5% equity contribution on behalf of Abia pipo," Okiyi tok.

Wetin di 188MW geometric power plant mean for residents of Aba, Nigeria?

Nigeria Vice President, Kashim Shettima inaugurate wetin be di first independent and integrated power utility for Nigeria, for Aba, Abia State, according to di owners of di facility, Geometric Power Limited.

Shettima represent President Bola Tinubu for di event on Monday.

Di Aba Integrated Power Project na a 141-megawatt facility, wey also get a 27-kilometre gas pipeline wey go dey transport gas direct from di gas-rich Owaza community for Ukwa West local goment area of Abia State to Osisioma Industrial layout wia di power plant dey.

Dis power plant dey expected to supply regular electricity to nine out of di 17 local goment areas for Abia State.

Sabi pipo tok say dis go bring out di potential of Aba, wey many dey refer to as di ‘China of Nigeria’ sake of di big population of skilled artisans, craftsmen, and local manufacturers wey dey operate for di city.

Irregular electricity supply na one of di biggest challenges for Nigeria. Plenty households and businesses dey generate electricity by diasef using petrol-powered generating sets wey dey very expensive to buy and maintain.

Several interventions by goment to increase power supply for di kontri neva bring di desired result. Even di eventual privatisation of di kontri power sector no do much to solve di problem.

Currently, Nigeria national grid get capacity to generate 14,000 MW of power, but actual generation and transmission neva pass 5000MW. In fact, di national grid don collapse at least four times between September 2023 and February 2024.

Bifor now, di generation, distribution and transmission of electricity for Nigeria na di sole responsibility of di federal goment, but for June 2023, President Tinubu sign di new Electricity Act 2023 into law.

Di law open opportunity for states and private companies to generate, transmit and distribute power supply.

Aba – A sleeping giant

Aba dey known for im shoes, bags and oda leather products. Di city also get skilled tailors and fashion designers and na dem popularise di style of garment known as ‘Senator’ for Nigeria.

Di city also dey known for paper products, beer and water bottling, wood works, metal fabrication, etc.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, bin don share im plans on how to establish Aba make e be di main industrial hub for Nigeria.

For January dis year, Otti inaugurate di Abia Global Economic Advisory Council wey get notable figures like di former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, and Arunma Oteh as members, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of di World Trade Organisation as honourary advisor.

“We wan make our State dey economically viable, create wealth for genuine businessmen and women and expand di frontiers of opportunities for our youth population. We dey committed to do things in new ways,” govnot Otti bin tok dat time

Tori be say Geometric plan to sell power to di national grid.

Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, founder of Nairametrics for im analysis say Aba only need around 100MW, while dem go sell di rest to di grid.

“Dis sale go also require a contract wey parties go gatz sign on di grid side. I suspect Enugu Disco and even Port Harcourt go take di offers.

“Transmission and gas companies go also be likely parties. Geometric power go need grid off take as dat one go help wit capacity utilization,” e tok.