Obasanjo commissions Geometric Power sub-station in Aba, lauds Nnaji’s foresight

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commissioned a new 2 X 15 MVA power sub- station built at Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State, by Geometric Power, commending the development and Professor Barth Nnaji, founder and chairman of the company, for his foresight.

Obasanjo’s commendation came as Governor Alex Otti said his administration was making plans to buy the Umuahia Ringed Fence from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the area.

Cutting the tape to declare the facility officially open, Obasanjo, who as President of the country, gave Prof Nnaji the approval to commence the project, said visiting the power plant has given him first hand idea of what Nnaji is doing in Aba.

The former president said Aba, being the industrial hub of the South East, citing such a project in the city could only be done by a man with foresight like Nnaji, commending the former Power and Energy Minister for his doggedness, for not giving up even in the face of great adversities.

“It is only a man with thick skin and foresight like Professor Nnaji that could come up with this type of project despite the initial challenges he faced,” Obasanjo said, reiterating that he was overwhelmed by what he saw on the ground.

The former president pleaded with Nnaji to include the remaining eight LGAs in the State not yet covered by Geometric Power, applauding Governor Alex Otti for his leadership style and urging people of the state to continue to give their support for the success of the project.

In his remarks, Governor Otti appreciated former President Obasanjo for some courageous actions he took while in office, including isolating Aba as a ringed-fence way back before the federal government granted states authority to regulate electric power.

Otti described Aba as the centre of industrialization which deserves steady power and congratulated Prof. Nnaji for the success of the project.

Disclosing that his government is set to buy over the Umuahia Ringed Fence from EEDC in order to provide steady power for the rest of the eight LGAs not covered by Geometric, Otti said: “We are in the process of buying EEDC and restructuring Umuahia. By tomorrow (Tuesday), we will be making an offer to EEDC.

“Our estimation is that with all the 11 sub-stations (of Geometric) ready and the nine local government areas connected, somehow, we have the problem of Ukwa West, which we are putting heads together to solve. So, that means that we will have over 80 megawatts excess power from here.

“Ordinarily, what would happen is for that excess power to be injected into the national grid, but then, with the deregulation, our discussion with Geometric Power is around wheeling that 80 or 88 megawatts or any excess power into Umuahia ring-fence. So, once we are in control, that excess power will go to Umuahia,” Gov. Otti enthused.

Chairman and CEO of Geometric Power Group, Professor Nnaji, while giving an overview of the vision of Aba Integrated Power Project, said the success of the plant will not be complete without the former President being given a pride of place.

“The story began in 2000 when the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was constructing the Transmission Line from Shiroro to Katampe in Abuja to meet the fast-growing demand for power in the new Federal Capital City,” Prof. Nnaji recalled.

“The then NEPA needed a capable firm to build an Emergency Power Plant in Abuja to meet the demand pending the completion of the transmission line for power supply from the grid.

“Against all manner of unpatriotic forces, President Obasanjo approved a contract for our small team of talented Nigerian engineers led by me to build and operate the 22MW Abuja Emergency Power Plant designed to supply 15MW on 24/7 reliable basis to the entire Abuja Central Business District. Our company built and operated one of the two plants, while Aggreko of Scotland built and operated the second one of the same size.

“We are proud that instead of operating it for only one year that the plant operated successfully and supplied power reliably for over two years and four months it took to complete the Shiroro – Katampe 330KV line. During this period, power supply to these places in the Central Area of Abuja did not blink.”

“Tt was only a leader with Chief Obasanjo’s foresight and patriotism that would permit the creation of the Aba Ring-Fenced Area for this pilot project as part of his plan for the power sector reform programme, which he initiated as a way to revitalize and sustain Nigeria’s economy,” Nnaji added.

He further commended Obasanjo and Governor Otti for their roles which, he said, were instrumental to the realization of the project.