Residents excited as Geometric Power kicks off in Abia, hopeful of business boom

Henry Okonkwo was recently in Aba, Abia State, to gauge the response of residents to the start of operation by Geometric Power, one of the independent power supply companies in the country.

The recent launch of the Geometric Power (GP) project in Aba, Abia State has sparked rays of hope and a wave of enthusiasm and optimism among residents and business owners. This independent power project is believed to be a development that will revive businesses in Enyimba City and many Abians are excited about it. The widespread belief is that this project will bring back the lost glory of the city.

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In the 90s, Aba was not only a commercial hub in the southeastern region but also an industrial centre. Various factories like Nigerian Breweries, Lever Brothers, Star Paper Mills, PZ Cussons, and Interland Industries, among others, operated and flourished in Aba. In 2000, the combined sales of the shoe and garment industry in Aba, the third-largest commercial city in Nigeria, were worth $200 million. Unfortunately, the fortunes of Aba businesses declined due to negligence towards the small and medium-scale enterprises (SME) sector. Other factors, such as insecurity and declining economic fortunes, led to the collapse of many companies, including SMEs. However, with the coming of the Geometric Power project, many Abians are hopeful for a brighter future. Business owners are eagerly anticipating the myriad benefits that this new power supply project is poised to deliver.

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A silver lining in the crowd?

GP, owned by a professor of engineering and former minister of power, Barth Nnaji,  conceptualised the Aba Integrated Power Plant project and signed the agreement with the federal government in 2005. The 181-megawatt power plant project aimed to generate and distribute 24-hour power in Aba. However, this lofty objective was stalled by known powerful personalities, who because of their selfish interests, orchestrated spurious long-drawn legal tussles that not only delayed the project but grounded residents and businesses in Aba known as ‘Japan of Africa,’ in perpetual blackout for several years. Hence, because of the sheer greed and brigandage of these connected elites, households and industries in the Southeast experienced blackouts several times a month.

However, after nearly two decades, GP is finally getting closer to fulfilling its promise of providing a steady power supply to the city of Aba. Three weeks ago, it turned on the first of its four power-generating turbines, signalling the beginning of a new era of stability and efficiency of electricity in many parts of the city.

Although news on most social media platforms claims that the entire residents of Aba now enjoy 24-hour light, AF24NEWS during a visit to the city, confirmed that although there has been remarkable improvement of power supply in some areas in Aba, no area can boast of 24-hour light yet. Areas like Park Road, Pound Road, Hospital Road, St Michael Road, Asa Road, Market Road, Azikiwe Road, and some other communities in the heart of the town have been enjoying improved electricity, while outskirts like Osisioma, World Bank Estate, Ogbor Hill, Faulks Road are yet to enjoy improved power.

GP, while acknowledging the power supply gap between Aba urban and many outskirts, assured that necessary steps are being taken to improve the situation. The engineers explained their plans to strengthen the essential technical losses before rolling out their complete services. “Currently, we are still dishing out power step by step. This is because we are mapping the areas we are to cover. We are also adjusting the combustors, and doing some more configuration. This is so because we don’t want a situation where we may be wasting gas only to produce little power. So we are producing power on a gradual basis until we tighten all lose technical glitches before we turn on our remaining turbines,” one of the GP engineers, Ezekiel Nwosu said.

However, despite the disparity and delay in steady power supply, many business owners in the city are excited about the new power supply project, as they anticipate numerous benefits once the project is fully operational. Several Aba business owners who spoke to AF24NEWS expressed their joy about the project, relishing how improved power supply would significantly reduce their operational costs, and enable businesses to operate profitably. “We in Aba are very grateful. You can see, I have four industrial sewing machines with 10 ten apprentices working for me. I used to spend too much on diesel. But now God has indeed answered our prayers through this Geometric project,” Kenneth Okoro, a tailor at Pound Road said. “We now enjoy at least 14 hours of steady light every day. So for over two weeks now, I’ve not gone to buy diesel or petrol to fuel my generator. Light has been stable and we are all very happy.”

Fabian Chukwuka, a hotelier from the Osisioma area, mentioned that he remains optimistic despite not yet experiencing the improved power supply that the urban areas of Aba enjoy. He shared his belief in GP’s commitment to delivering steady power to the area soon enough. “Power supply has not improved for us here in Osisioma. But we don’t despair because we have heard how parts of Aba are already improving electricity supply, so we eagerly await for when GP would start their metering for communities in Osisioma so we can enjoy improved power too. I run a bar and hotel, so the benefits of this newly commissioned power supply project will boost businesses in Aba.

“Many youths are into leatherworks at Bakassi area in Ariaria International Market, or tailoring at School Road, some others into barbing, farming, electricians, cosmetic and beverage production have been very enterprising and resilient against tough challenges. So when we have steady electricity in Aba, it will increase their capacity to scale up in our businesses, expand our operations, and explore new growth opportunities,” Chukwuka said.

Another resident, Nnamdi Okoro also bared his mind on the GP power project. “Our area, Faulks Road by old Mr Biggs behind, Power Line, don’t enjoy improved electricity, sometimes we don’t have light for days. So all these claims that the entire Aba now has a 24-hour power supply is a big lie. But we are calming down because we can see that work is still in progress.

“But we believe that gradually, they’ll stop the interruptions. They’ve told us that they are only delivering 17mw for now, which is not enough to go round for the entire Aba. That’s why light isn’t constant in some areas. So once they reach the turbine’s capacity of 47mw, there will be more electricity to share with areas like ours,” he added.