The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has announced that excess power from the recently-commissioned Geometric Power Plant in Aba, the capital of Abia State, will be used to boost the national grid.

Adelabu made this announcement during the commissioning of the 188MW, with 141MW capacity plant, in Abia State.

According to the minister, the newly-commissioned power plant does not belong to the people of Abia State alone, but to every Nigerian.

“Any power that the Aba people and businesses cannot absorb would be delivered to the national grid, in that way supplying additional electricity to various parts of Nigeria,” Adelabu stated.

Adelabu also buttressed the fact that the project was such a unique one as it is integrated while consisting basically of Geometric Power Aba Limited, and APL Electric Company Limited.

This is because both companies are licensed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to generate and distribute electricity respectively.

The two companies are also licensed to do business within the Aba Ring Fenced Area, which covers nine and 17 local government areas of Abia State.

”It is no coincidence that Aba IPP is being inaugurated less than one year after I assumed office as the Honourable Minister of Power,” Adelabu said.

“The President Bola Tinubu administration has always appreciated the knowledge, skills, competence, and patriotism of the founder and chairman of Geometric Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, one of my worthy predecessors.

“At the retreat held for senior officials shortly after the current administration came into being in the middle of last year, President Tinubu personally ensured that Professor Nnaji was invited to speak to members of the new federal executive team on how to significantly improve electricity supply throughout Nigeria within a short period. Professor Nnaji was the only former minister so invited.”

Adelabu added that, as the presiding minister, he was recently invited to foster the necessary cordial relationship between APLE and some agencies under the Ministry of Power.

The Minister further explained that he ensured that both parties mutually realised their objectives.

He said in his intervention, he was very mindful of the need to encourage a fully Nigerian company and, at the same time, guide the government agencies on how to be firm and supportive towards the implementation of government policies and regulations.

Adelabu also said it is regrettable that such an impactful and strategic power project like the Aba IPP could be allowed to be in limbo for as many as nine years as a result of the avoidable manner in which the privatisation of the power sector was carried out.

“It would not have suffered so long if the Tinubu administration had been in office earlier. The suffering is now behind us. The future matters more,” he said.

“I assure you that under the President Tinubu administration, we will continue to provide a friendly environment to thrive and offer government assistance to the Aba IPP and other serious-minded and other serious-minded power project developers in Nigeria.”

Nigerians have been groaning in recent times due to the lack of power supply in most states of the country. (The Guardian)

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