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Aba Geometric Power Plant: Support the Likes of Nnaji, Atiku Tells FG, Congratulates Abia Govt, People

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By Eric Elezuo
A former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has celebrated the efforts of Prof Barth Nnaji, who spearheaded the establishment of the 188MN Geometric Power Plant in Aba, the government and people of Abia State, for the landmark achievement as the city moves dependency on the national grid to standing on its own, and achieving 24-hour uninterrupted electricity.
On Monday, the 188MW Geometric Power Plant in Aba, Abia State, was commissioned. By this weekend, Aba Power Limited, a subsidiary of Geometric Power, will commence the electricity supply to a section of Enyimba City. It has taken long, two decades in coming. But soon, the much-needed electricity to unleash the full potential of Aba, the industrial and commercial nerve centre of Abia, will surely make up for the long wait.
I congratulate and appreciate the efforts of Prof Barth Nnaji and his team to deliver on this project despite all the (political and) business environment obstacles. His tenacity and demonstration of the ‘can-do spirit’ is exemplary. It is remarkable that the governor of Abia state had stayed the course of the project that he had made an initial contribution to as a private sector person. Equally worthy of congratulation is the enterprising people of Abia.
This significant milestone is important for several reasons. Firstly, it improves people’s access to electricity – thereby improving the overall quality of life in Abia. This is a privilege the people of Abia must be thankful for. As we all know, more than 40% of Nigeria’s 220 million people do not have access to electricity.
Secondly, it is a big boost to businesses. Aba is one of Southeast’s industrial nerve centres. The other is the Nnewi axis. Inadequate power infrastructure is identified as the most problematic factor for doing business in Nigeria. More than 70% of firms in Nigeria use generators.
Thirdly, the project is delivered by the private sector – and an indigenous one to boot! It demonstrates the resilience of the private sector despite all the business environment issues. It also demonstrates the capacity of the local private sector to deliver on such huge and complex projects.
Why does this excite me?
I have all along been concerned that:
1. The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has over the years suffered from inadequate investments, failure of generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.
2. Nigeria’s core infrastructure stock is very low, estimated at 35-40% of GDP, below the international benchmark of 70% and below South Africa 87%, Indonesia 70%, China 76% and India 58%.
3. The finances required to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure gap are in the region of US$100 billion per annum – over the next 30 years. Nigeria does not have the resources to provide all of its infrastructure needs without sacrificing investments in education, health, and other social services. It should be remembered that Nigeria struggles to budget no more than US$30 billion annually.
For these reasons, I have been an ardent advocate of private sector presence in Nigeria. I have all along advocated for a private sector friendly business environment so we could leverage its enormous resources, including finance, skills, and technology. I doubt if the Abia state government would have been able to execute this mega project with the resources at its disposal.
My policy document outlines how Nigeria could prioritize investments to increase the stock and improve the quality of economic and social infrastructure across the country. We believe that narrowing the enormous gap that exists between the demand and supply of key infrastructure facilities in Nigeria is key to improving the competitiveness of our businesses, opening new economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, and promoting enterprise growth.
To achieve this, we pledged to undertake far-reaching institutional reforms and introduce innovative infrastructure financing models that will be appealing to the private sector to take risks and invest capital.
To this end, we pledged to:
· Facilitate the establishment of a private sector-led Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF) to mobilize domestic and international private resources for the financing and delivery of large infrastructure projects across all sectors of the economy.
· Establish an “Infrastructure Development Unit” (IDU) in the Presidency, with a coordinating function and a specific mandate of working with the MDAs to fast track and drive the process of infrastructure development in the country.
· Strengthen the capacity of the ICRC to promote Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the construction and management of infrastructure across the country.
· Broaden the scope of InfraCredit to complement the operation of the IDF by de-risking investments in infrastructure to build investor confidence in taking risks and investing capital.
· Open up the entire power sector from generation to transmission for private investments. Going forward, the goal of every developing country must be to achieve universal access to electricity, ensuring that every citizen benefits from reliable power for daily needs, education, healthcare, and economic activities. This would be in line with the SDG 7 (Sustainable Development Goal 7), which aims to ensure affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. In this wise:
· Nigeria must double efforts to support the likes of Prof Nnaji. Nigerian governments both federal and state must provide the Business environment that will make the private enterprises more competitive by (1) reducing their costs of set-up and operations (2) improving their margins and (3) making government policies more predictable.
· In particular, the authorities must create an environment that will enable distribution companies to recover full costs for power supplied to their consumers with firm commitment to a metering program for all customers. The scourge of electricity theft must be dealt with through a viable partnership between investors in the distribution companies and the government with legislative support for prompt action against electricity theft.
· Attention must be paid to improve access to Credit by enterprises willing to invest in the power sector.
· Government must incentivize the private sector to increase greenfield investments in the development of off-grid solutions to intensify electrification, particularly of rural communities not yet serviced by the grid. -AA

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Dominican University Hails Peter Obi on 65th Birthday

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The Dominican University, Ibadan, has paid glowing tribute to its Pro-Chancellor and former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, on his 65th birthday, describing him as a visionary leader whose commitment to education, youth development and national progress continues to inspire generations of Nigerians.

In a goodwill message issued on Sunday, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Jacinta Opara, lauded Obi’s enduring passion for quality education, noting that his consistent investments in human capital and advocacy for educational excellence have strengthened institutions and offered hope to young people across the country.

According to Opara, Obi has, through his public service and private engagements, remained a steadfast champion of education, making it a cornerstone of his vision for national development.

She said his words, actions and unwavering support for learning had reinforced the conviction that education remains the most effective instrument for building a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable society.

The university also expressed appreciation for Obi’s contributions to the institution as Pro-Chancellor, describing his leadership, generosity and guidance as instrumental to its growth and development.

The statement noted that under his stewardship, Dominican University has continued to pursue academic excellence while remaining committed to its mission of producing morally upright and globally competitive graduates.

It read in part: “As a university founded a decade ago on the rich 800-year educational heritage of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), we remain profoundly grateful for your visionary leadership, generous support and invaluable contributions as our Pro-Chancellor.”

The institution joined family members, associates and well-wishers in celebrating Obi’s milestone, praying for continued good health, wisdom, strength and divine guidance as he continues to advocate good governance, human dignity, hope and national development.

The message, signed by the Vice-Chancellor, reaffirmed the university’s pride in its association with Obi, whose dedication to education, integrity and selfless service, it said, continues to leave a lasting impact on the nation and inspire future generations.

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Ooni of Ife Loses Elder Brother Prince Adetunji

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The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has announced the passing of his immediate elder brother, Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi.

The monarch made the announcement in a statement released on Sunday through the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Sodiq Lawal.

Describing the late prince as a respected businessman and compassionate leader, the Ooni said Prince Adetunji lived a life dedicated to service, humility and the wellbeing of others.

According to the statement, the death of Prince Adetunji has left a deep void in the Ogunwusi family, the Ojaja Royal Dynasty and the entire Ile-Ife Kingdom.

Prince Adetunji, who was born on December 8, 1967, was a member of the Ojaja lineage of the Giesi Ruling House in Ile-Ife. He was also the Group Chairman of Primewaterview Holdings, where he earned recognition for his contributions to business development and entrepreneurship.

The Ooni noted that his late brother built a reputation as an innovative entrepreneur and visionary leader. Through his business activities, he created opportunities for many people and contributed to economic growth in different sectors.

The monarch further stated that beyond his achievements in business, Prince Adetunji was known for his generosity, kindness and commitment to humanitarian causes. He was said to have quietly supported many individuals and families, offering assistance, guidance and encouragement whenever needed.

The statement added that Prince Adetunji’s influence extended beyond the corporate world, as he remained deeply connected to his roots and maintained a strong interest in the progress and development of Ile-Ife and its people.

The Ooni described his late brother as a dependable adviser, a loving family member and a man whose legacy would continue to inspire future generations.

Family members, friends, associates and well wishers have continued to pay tribute to the late prince, remembering him for his humility, wisdom and positive impact on society.

The palace said further details regarding funeral arrangements and other ceremonies would be announced by the family in due course.

Prince Adetunji’s death marks a significant loss to the royal family and the people of Ile-Ife, who will remember him for his service, leadership and dedication to humanity.

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Harakati Za Holds Pan-African Conference on Economic Restructuring, Political Reforms, Regional Integration in Accra

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More than 200 delegates from across Africa are expected to converge in Accra on July 24, 2026, for an international conference on “Economic Restructuring, Political Reforms and Integration for Sustainable Development in Africa.”

The conference, organised by Harakati Za Muungano, will take place at the GNAT Hall and will bring together policymakers, academics, business leaders, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, youth leaders and development partners to explore practical solutions for accelerating Africa’s development through deeper regional integration.

Harakati Za Muungano, a Swahili phrase meaning “Union Movement,” is a pan-African movement committed to promoting African unity, economic transformation and governance reforms that support sustainable development.

The organisation believes that Africa’s vast human and natural resources can only be fully harnessed through stronger regional cooperation, enhanced intra-African trade and governance systems that place the continent’s long-term development at the centre of public policy.

Since its establishment in November 2023, the movement has expanded its operations to 17 African countries, engaging governments, regional institutions, traditional leaders, professionals, youth groups and community organisations.

Its work focuses on policy advocacy, research, civic engagement and humanitarian initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive development, strengthening regional cooperation and encouraging reforms that improve the quality of life of Africans.

The conference will provide a platform for participants to deliberate on critical issues affecting the continent, including constitutional reforms, economic restructuring, regional market integration, industrialisation, governance continuity and sustainable financing models for development.

Organisers expect the discussions to produce practical recommendations that can inform policy decisions at both national and regional levels.

A major focus of the conference will be the movement’s vision of a more integrated Sub-Saharan Africa where barriers to trade and movement are reduced, economic collaboration is strengthened and governments adopt policies that encourage long-term planning, investment and shared prosperity.

The organisation believes that greater integration will unlock new opportunities for businesses, create jobs, promote industrial growth and enhance Africa’s global competitiveness.

Organisers say the conference represents an important opportunity for African leaders and stakeholders to collectively examine bold and innovative approaches to the continent’s future.

With over 200 delegates expected from across the continent, the event is anticipated to foster meaningful dialogue, strengthen partnerships and advance a shared vision of an economically resilient, politically stable and fully integrated Africa.

-Overseeronline.com

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