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As Aba Independent Power Project Comes Alive
By Mohammed Shosanya (Lagos)
Daily Trust, Abuja
November 8, 2007
It was pomp and ceremony last week when President Musa Yar'Adua led other dignitaries to Osisioma, near Aba in Abia State to perform foundation-laying ceremony of the Aba Independent Power Project.
The ceremony came at the nick of the time when Nigerians have traded their hopes for uninterrupted power supply in the country.
Suffice to say that in the last eight years of the previous administration, the power sector grew worse inspite of the controversial expenditure sunk on it and noises about improved power supply existed only in rhetorics.
And when the new administration came on board and promised to declare a state of emergency on the enmeshed power sector, many Nigerians praised President Yar'Adua to high heavens.
Things have not taken shape hitherto. Power supply is still elusive and Nigerians seem to have negotiated again there hopes for improved power sector under this fresh administration.
But,the foundation laying ceremony for the Aba Independent Power Project may have rekindled the hope of Nigerians that the days of interrupted power supply are numbered.
The Aba Independent Power Project (IPP) is spearheaded by an indigenous company, Geometric Power Limited, owned by the former Minister of Science and Professor of Robotic Engineering, Professor Bartholmew Nnaji.
Apart from the Aba IPP,the company has a sterling record having successfully built a 22 megawatts Abuja Emergency Power Project in 2001,which currently lit up the seat of power and its environs.
Besides, the project which will gulp a princely S250million,is targeted at supplying 140megawatts of electricity to the national grid. The funding of the project is a concerted efforts of local and foreign financial institutions that will pool their resources and expertise together to ensure that it came to life and satisfy the needs of Nigerians.
Among the financial institutions which have given their nod to partake in the project include; the International Finance Corporation (IFC), European Investment Bank[EIB] and African Finance Corporation[AFC].
Also, the foremost power specialist from Canada, Mr. Paul Nickson, is said to have been hired by the indigenous company to perfect the Aba IPP. Speaking at the foundation ceremony last week in Aba, President Yar'Adua described the project as the first major investment by a Nigerian in diaspora.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of State for Energy and Gas, Mr. Emmanuel Odusina said. "The successful completion, operation and management of the project will, no doubt, be a reference point in the nation's history of power generation,distribution and transmission"
According to the Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, the project would aid the revival of industries that were closed in Aba and other towns due to epileptic power supply.
While commending Geometric for siting the project in the state, Orji pledged the government's support for the project and warned the host communities against sabotage, harassment and intimidation of workers at the site of the project.
Both Special Assistant to the President on Power, Joseph Makoju and the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Ransome Owan, described the project as a veritable and potent force to change the face of the dwindling power generation in the country.
And to demonstrate the commitment and seriousness of Geometric Limited to smoothsail the project, its Chairman, Professor Barthol-omew Nnaji, noted in his speech at the occasion that an extensive environmental impact assessment of the project had been conducted, adding that the plant would commence operations in a year's time.
Report from Aba indicates that businessmen, investors and the likes have already embraced the project and have expressed willingness to work with the company to ensure its success.
One could only hope that the present administration provides more latitudes and enabling environments for private investors to invest in the power sector with a view to rescuing it from needless abyss.