Wetin be dis 'Nigeria first independent power facility' wey dey happun for Aba

Nigeria Vice President, Kashim Shettima go inaugurate wetin go 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 go 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

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