By Isaac Akerele
Former Nigeria Vice President, Mr. Atiku Abubakar has lauded the recent inauguration of the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Aba, Abia State, as a milestone achievement that will drive further infrastructure development in Nigeria.
Stating this in a post on his verified X handle, the former Vice President said that the commissioning of the Power Plant is a significant advancement in enhancing electricity access in Aba, the industrial and commercial hub of Abia State. According to him, the power project would create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
While he hailed the dedication of Prof. Barth Nnaji and his team towards the success of the project, Atiku gave kudos to the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, for staying the course of the project and seeing it to completion. He further stressed the need for private sector involvement in the economy.
Stating further, Atiku stressed that universal access to electricity will enhance the quality of life for all Nigerians, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 7. He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to support initiatives like the Geometric Power Plant, and other policies that promote private enterprises
Regarding other challenges within the power sector, he called for a focus on combating electricity theft, enhancing credit access for power sector investments, and incentivizing greenfield investments in off-grid solutions to speed up rural electrification efforts. Atiku advocates for more efforts by the Nigerian government to create a more competitive environment for businesses that will reduce the costs of operations and improve profit margin
The 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant, inaugurated February 26th, has been described as the first integrated electricity facility in Nigeria, and the biggest investment in the south-east zone of Nigeria, located in the Osisioma industrial area of Aba, Abia State.
