The stage for Nigeria’s power sector development miracle was set with the commissioning of the Geometric Power Plant at Osisioma in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia state. The 188mw electricity project was inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is another huge milestone witnessed in the Nigerian power sector aimed at strengthening big and small-scale businesses for improved productivity. The private power group has the capacity to generate its own electricity and independently supply to the Aba-Ringed Fence Area, which consists of nine out of the seventeen Local Council Areas in Abia State. This major feat in the electric power industry was achieved after the $800m investment went through a rigorous and strenuous ten-year legal battle over who owns the Aba-Ringed Fence Area. The protracted legal action had adversely affected the progress of work, including the stakeholders and the project value chain – investors, financiers, host community, contractors, suppliers, the good people and the government of Abia State.
In his speech at the event, the Vice President described the power plant as a game-changing one. The project bore testimony to the power of dreams as well as the fact that where there was a will, there would always be a way. He commended the initiative of Geometric Group and maintained that “some describe the Igbos as the Nigerian Jews, geographically mobile, economically enterprising and educationally ambitious. You have hope, right in our midst. The hope of the nation rests with Ndigbo.” The Vice President commended the Governor of Abia and urged him to keep the flag flying. Abia Governor, Alex Otti, said, “The power project holds great potentials for economic and social rejuvenation of Aba.” Before moving to Aba, the Vice President flagged off in Enugu, “Light Up Nigeria, South East” – a collaboration between Niger Delta Power Holding Company and its associates as part of the anticipated panacea to the power supply shortfall undermining the country’s economic growth and industrialisation.
Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman of Geometric Power Group, revealed that “his passion to contribute to industrial development in Igbo land in a manner that would accelerate the rapid development of Nigeria was the major influence behind the decision to locate the plant in Aba.” Nnaji said, “I am passionate about the rapid development of Nigeria, starting with Ala Igbo because of the structural problems it has faced since the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970 and also because of mic potentials.” He informed that Geometric Power Limited is making its contribution to help reclaim the old economic days of the Great Zik of Africa, Dr. M.I. Okpara and many others. Once Geometric Power addresses the electricity challenge in nine out of 17 local government areas in Abia State fully, not even the sky will be the limit of the attainments of the people and government of Abia State. Abia can set the stage for a development miracle, which has been waiting to happen.”
The dream of the Aba project, according to Nnaji, was birthed when Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance and current Director-General, World Trade Organisation, invited former President of the World Bank, late Dr. James Wolfohnson, to Aba to showcase the enormous entrepreneurial, economic and technological potentials of the eastern business hub. The visit recommended building a 50-megawatt power plant in Abia for manufacturers, including big, medium and small.
The lack of a constant electricity supply is one of the banes of Nigeria’s inhibited growth and development. Almost all major investments of the government for improved power supply have woefully failed to produce the much-desired result. Power projects in Nigeria are either designed to fail from the onset or sabotaged internally. At a point in the life of Nigeria’s power sector, the sum of N16bn was invested to generate 5000mw of electricity between 1999-2007 without the much-expected tangible result. The contract entered into with Siemens Germany by the Buhari administration was shrouded in secrecy and lacked direction. Consequently, an acceleration agreement was signed in December 2023 by Tinubu’s government with Siemens to see to the end-to-end modernisation and expansion of Nigeria’s electric power transmission grid with the full supply, delivery and installation of Siemens-manufactured equipment under the timeline of 18 to 24 months. Aba is globally reputed for local manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship. This bustling buying and selling city, according to Nnaji, “has a special place in the heart and mind of every person interested in our country’s rapid progress.”
The name Aba is synonymous with commerce and technology. This uncommon, independent I can do it culture despite all odds is the norm. In Aba, turning nothing into something is the new normal. With available electricity supply to the city, the sky is the limit of productive talents waiting to prove a point. Many dead and forgotten industrial cluster areas, small and medium enterprises struggling to survive will heave a sigh of relief as they quickly come on board. Industries in Aba and Nigeria are willing to pay for electricity supply but lack of it has driven many out of business. With the launch of the Geometric plant, the journey of enjoying a stable power supply in Nigeria has earnestly begun. It is implicitly hoped that the Aba example will positively radiate and affect the entire country. This is a clarion call for those with the financial chest to take a cue from Geometric by investing in power supply. Most importantly, the government should also provide the enabling environment and the needed support for private sector investment in the sector.
The reasons for building the power project in Aba are not far-fetched. First, I accepted to build the plant because “I had experienced, firsthand, what industrialists in Igbo land were going through,” said Prof. Nnaji. It goes without saying that despite the enormous industrial potential in the eastern part of Nigeria, government policies and programmes have rather stalled the development than improved it. In Igbo land, people have taken it upon themselves to independently or communally execute developmental projects. Second, there is an existing foundation for informal business structures laid for the rapid economic and technological growth of Nigeria in Aba.
This was achieved by the sheer industry of the people. Aba alone, according to reports, boasts over 110,000 shoemakers and 50,000 tailors besides fabricators of different wares made of wood, iron and steel. In Aba, everyone is a trader and almost everything is trading. It, therefore, follows when the value chain of constant electricity is provided to lubricate the already existing structures. Third, seamless production of goods and services hindered by lack of electricity and its attendant high cost of alternative energy will come back on stream. As a result, jobs lost to this force will be back while the national gross domestic product (GDP) will increase.
It is my pleasure to join millions of Nigerians in appreciating Professor Barth Nnaji, the Chairman of Geometric Power Group for his passion to contribute to the growth and industrial development of Ala Igbo and Nigeria at large. Electricity is the fulcrum upon which national development revolves. With available supply to power homes, offices, and small and medium scale businesses in Aba, Nigeria is toeing the right path to a revived and productive nation.
By Sunday Onyemaechi Eze
Mr. Eze is a Media and Development Communications Specialist via sunnyeze02@yahoo. com, and can be reached on 08060901201
