The inauguration of the Geometric Independent Power Project, pioneered by Prof. Bart Nnaji, marks a monumental milestone for Abia State. After 20 years of anticipation, the power plant’s unveiling, which took place in Aba, Abia State, signifies a turning point in Nigeria’s energy landscape. Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, in a historic moment, activated the first turbine of the Geometric Power Group’s 141 MW thermal power plant on February 26, 2024. The power plant, described as the first integrated electricity facility in Nigeria, is located in the Osisioma industrial area of the south-eastern state.

With an investment of approximately $800 million, the Geometric Power Group in Charge of the Project has not only erected a power plant but also laid down a 27-kilometer natural gas pipeline, connecting Owaza in Ukwa West LGA to the industrial heartland of Osisioma in Aba. This huge effort positions Abia as a key player in Nigeria’s energy narrative, alongside states like Rivers and Akwa Ibom in the Niger Delta region, as they are the first states to undertake the building of power plant projects in Nigeria.

Of great significance, therefore, are the lessons for other state governments to learn from this game-changer in the country’s economic landscape. The first of them is having a dream that would positively impact the quality of life of millions of people and businesses in Abia State, being a trade hub for economic development and revenue generation in the Niger Delta Region, and pursuing it to its logical conclusion against all odds.

The  former power minister, Prof  Barth Nnaji, who conceptualized the idea, said he was inspired by Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was then the Minister of Finance but is currently the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She had charged Nnaji to envision the possibility of putting in place a power infrastructure that could provide uninterrupted electricity to Aba, the commercial and industrial hub of Abia State. That was in 2004. That same year, Prof. Okonjo-Iwela invited the then President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, to Aba to witness first-hand the huge economic and technological potential of the industrial city.

The next step taken, which was of utmost importance, was to get on board people who share one’s dreams, as Okonjo-Iweala and the incumbent Governor Otti have done concerning Nnaji’s vision of the power plant. The first phase of the project was completed around 2013.

However, the project faced several challenges, including regulatory, political, and legal issues, which were not resolved until 2022 Under the President Buhari Administration.

During that year, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) facilitated the handover of the Aba Electricity Ringfenced area from EEDC/Interstate Electrics/FGN to Geometric.

It was expected to commence operation in September 2023, starting with one of its four General Electric brand turbines.

The second turbine will come on stream once the performance of the first turbine is declared satisfactory by the team of engineers led by KSE Energy of Turkey and Engineer Ben Caven, a former executive director of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), reputed to be the only person to have run the generation, engineering, and transmission divisions of the state-owned utility.

The implementing company Geometric also stated that they have completed building four brand new power substations and refurbished three substations inherited from the then Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

In addition, they provided thousands of kilometers of cables and wires, as well as world-class tubular poles available in only highly industrialized cities such as Tokyo in Japan and San Francisco in California.

Amongst other challenges that acted as mechanisms in the progress of accomplishing this project were the unfortunate sale and resale of the Aba Invest Island, which took a life of its own. In addition, Shell Petroleum, which owned the major oil block that was supposed to supply gas to Geometric, was sold to another company whose focus was not gas for domestic use but export. But good enough, there were a series of discussions with both Geometric and NNPC on the project soon after Otti took over as governor of Abia State on May 29, 2024. NNPC had deployed their partners, and gas was made available for the plant, which is currently supplying 141 megawatts of power. According to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, with time, the capacity will be expanded to 181 megawatts when the final turbine is delivered.

Of great significance, therefore, are the lessons for other state governments to learn from this game-changer in the country’s economic landscape. The first of them is having a dream that would positively impact the quality of life of millions of people and businesses in Abia State and be a trade hub for economic development and revenue generation in the Niger Delta Region.

Moreover, the economic implications of this venture are profound. Abia’s emergence as a hub for electricity generation and distribution has the potential to revolutionize businesses across the state and the wider region. The establishment of Aba Power Limited Electric heralds a new era of energy accessibility, with implications for industries spanning agriculture, education, healthcare, entertainment, and tourism. The integration of power infrastructure with industrial prowess positions Abia as a formidable force in Nigeria’s economic landscape.

The Abia Power Project, which has changed the narrative of the country’s epileptic power supply, can now be replicated across the country. Other states can borrow a leaf from a new electricity distribution company, Aba Power Limited Electric, which has started taking electricity from the Aba plant and supplying it to about nine of the 17 local government areas in the south-eastern state of the Niger Delta Region.  The project is of critical importance since it deals with the power sector which is pivotal for economic growth as it will translate to reduced power costs for the productive sector and create jobs.

Moreover, the Geometric Power Plant’s unique status as Nigeria’s sole IPP licensed for both power generation and distribution underscores its significance. This integrated approach not only ensures a reliable power supply but also opens doors for innovative business models and investment opportunities.

In essence, the commissioning of the Abia Power Project is more than a mere inauguration; it is a catalyst for economic transformation. As businesses harness the newfound energy stability, Abia State and the entire Niger Delta region stand poised for unprecedented growth and prosperity.