Geometric Power, Nigeria’s foremost integrated electricity group, has expressed concerns over the severe shortage of natural gas supply to its 188-megawatt plant in the Osisioma Industrial Estate in Aba, Abia State, stating that it is hindering the state’s economic growth.

“Due to the grave shortage of gas,” said Ugo Opiegbe, the managing director of Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th electricity distribution company which is Geometric Power’s embedded firm, “we have been constrained to import 25 megawatts from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) at a huge cost, just to ensure that our customers have supplies, no matter the cost to us.”

Opiegbe continued in the statement: “It is a supreme irony that though we are ready to generate 141MW from our three General Electric (GE) turbines and provide uninterrupted, quality, and affordable electricity to nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State and export some 50MW potential excess power to the national grid to make power more available to other places in Nigeria, we are importing electricity because of the grave gas constraints.”

The company notes that the Aba Ringfence needs about 90MW, which it can generate from two of its installed three turbines, each with a capacity of 47MW.

“Therefore, the 25MW from the NDPHC is like a drop of water in the ocean.

“The unreliable gas supply is affecting hundreds of thousands of our customers, particularly manufacturing firms for whose sake Geometric Power built the $800m Aba Integrated Power Project to accelerate the industrial development of Aba and its environs and serve as a model of electricity development in Nigeria, a promising nation whose growth has been hampered seriously over the decades by the absence of such basic infrastructure as reliable power.”

Regarded as the biggest private sector investment in the Southeast, the Aba power integrated project was commissioned last February 26 by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

According to Ogbonna Chukwueke, an engineer and gas expert who used to be a Shell executive, Geometric Power signed an agreement with The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 2009 for the supply of 43 million standard cubic feet of gas (MSCF) from its Oil Mining Licences (OMLs) 11 and 17 in Owaza, Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, for its four turbines to produce 47MW each.

However, noted the erstwhile Shell engineer who is now a petroleum consultant in Lagos, the withdrawal of the petroleum giant from Nigeria’s onshore and shallow offshore operations following years of massive oil theft, vandalism against its facilities, community issues, and kidnapping of its officers for ransom by criminal gangs led to the transfer of the ownership and management of the OMLs 11 and 17 to local operators “who unfortunately have not been able to deliver even up to 10 Million SCF daily to the power plant.”

But Geometric Power has revealed that it is working “frantically to resolve the gas supply challenge,” acknowledging what it described as the wonderful and patriotic efforts of Vice President Shettima, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu, and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Managing Director Mele Kyari in assisting to get a more reliable source of gas to the power plant.

“From the look of things,” continued the power utility, “we should be able to overcome the gas shortage within a month.”

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, has described the model of the Geometric Power in developing the Aba Independent Power Project in Abia State as impressive.

“The Geometric model is impressive”, declared the High Commissioner after inspecting the facilities in the $800m power project which comprises a 188-megawatt gas-fired plant with an embedded distribution firm that provides electricity to nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State.

“It represents the kind of innovation needed to drive sustainable development across Nigeria”.

Dr Montgomery was accompanied by the Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engineer Ikechukwu Monday, and was received on arrival by the Geometric Power management led by its chairman, Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power.

Commissioned last February 26 by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Aba Independent Project was started in 2004 on the recommendation of the then World Bank president, James Wolfonsohn, and the then Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, when they visited Aba in March 2004 and discovered that the lack of reliable electricity was the main constraint to the realization of the city’s enormous manufacturing potential.

They requested Professor Nnaji, a leading Nigerian engineering professor in the United States who had earlier led a team of Nigerian engineers to build the 22MW Abuja Emergency Plant, to consider establishing an independent thermal plant in Aba for small, medium, and large industrialists.

High Commissioner Montgomery also lauded the “state-of-the-art facilities” at the power utility.

The utility, licensed to produce 188MW, has three installed General Electric (GE) turbines and has built four brand-new substations and refurbished three old ones inherited from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

“It has, in addition, provided 150,000 kilometres of overhead wires and cables”, says Ben Caven, a former PHCN executive director in charge of engineering, transmission, and generation who is now the Geometric Power managing director.

“Our steel tubular poles, with 10 metres buried in the ground to withstand any natural disaster like an earthquake, match the ones in San Francisco in the United States and Tokyo in Japan.

“We have also built a 27-kilometre gas pipeline from Owaza in Ukwa West LGA to the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba”.

The British diplomat said that given the technical sophistication attained by Geometric Power, he would like UK firms to work with it.

Nnaji praised the High Commissioner for the visit, adding that when Geometric Power overcomes the ongoing gas supply challenges in the next few weeks, Aba would be receiving about 100MW while about 50MW would be exported to the national grid to boost electricity in other parts of the country.

The Abia State Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities commended Governor Alex Otti for his “relentless support to Geometric Power for its key role in the state’s industrialization”.

Other Geometric Power executives who interacted with the British High Commissioner delegation are the Geometric Power Group Managing Director, Mrs. Agatha Nnaji, The Managing Director of Geometric Power Aba Limited, Engr. Ben Caven, the Aba Power Managing Director, Ugo Opiegbe, and the Geometric Power Chief Financial Officer, Tony Alozie, the Aba Power Chief Operating Officer, Engr Blessing Ogbe, Chief Security Officer of Geometric Security Services (GSS), Kenneth Agu, Facilities Manager, Geometric Power Group, Mr Adeniyi Adebiyi, as well as Hannah Yangchi, Principal Manager, Projects. Gmtnewsng

Lagos, Nigeria – In a bold and unvarnished revelation, Nigerian journalist David Hundeyin has publicly denounced an alleged conspiracy involving foreign interests aimed at undermining the Dangote Refinery. Hundeyin’s disclosure has sparked vigorous debate about external influences on African economies, particularly Nigeria’s. “A message needs to be sent to a group of external interests working in tandem with internal interests to counteract the interests of half a billion West Africans,” Hundeyin asserted. This revelation was shared on his official X handle, where it quickly gained traction among followers and industry watchers.

Last week, Hundeyin claims he was approached by Dialogue Earth, an international NGO, with an offer of N800,000 to pen an article arguing against the refinery’s environmental impact. “The thrust of the brief,” Hundeyin noted, “was for a prominent local voice to advocate for halting the refinery using environmental concerns as a pretext.” Dialogue Earth, formerly known as China Dialogue Trust, allegedly sought to recruit Hundeyin to voice opposition under the guise of environmental advocacy, a claim he believes exposes a larger agenda that extends beyond environmental concerns.

Identifying the NGO’s funders as various American intelligence fronts, including the Ford Foundation and ClimateWorks, Hundeyin alleged that these organizations are orchestrating a campaign to resist Nigeria’s industrial self-sufficiency. “For whatever reason, it is now quietly mobilizing a resistance campaign against what it describes as ‘Nigeria’s first refinery,’” Hundeyin remarked. This, he suggests, points to a broader strategy to keep Africa dependent on international oil markets, undermining its ability to manage and profit from its own natural resources.

Hundeyin criticized the narrative that exporting raw materials and importing refined goods was environmentally harmless. Meanwhile, Europe’s blending of West African fuel with hazardous levels of toxins seemed to escape similar scrutiny. “Nigeria having a refinery to end import dependency is where Dialogue Earth and its funders draw the line,” he stated, underscoring the selective environmental focus of the NGO. Hundeyin’s revelations invite a closer examination of who benefits from maintaining the status quo and at what environmental and economic costs to Africa.

Emphasizing transparency and the necessity of public accountability, Hundeyin expressed the need to reveal these alleged conspiracies, which he argues are designed to maintain Africa’s economic stagnation. “These people believe that Africans should not exist or have nice things in this world,” Hundeyin declared with palpable exasperation. His commentary highlights the enduring struggle for self-determination and the latent colonial dynamics that persist in modern global economic relationships.

In taking this public stance, Hundeyin acknowledges the professional risks involved, recognizing that his actions might jeopardize jobs and livelihoods. “The message needs to be passed,” he stressed, advocating against succumbing to financial incentives that perpetuate systemic poverty. Hundeyin’s decision to make this information public serves as a call to action for other African journalists and influencers to remain vigilant against being used as tools by foreign interests.

Hundeyin’s skepticism toward climate-oriented agendas further fueled his critique. “I am not a believer in the religious faith called Climate Change/Saving The Environment,” he confessed, dismissively comparing it to the environmental destruction historically perpetrated by Western nations. This stance challenges prevailing narratives and invites debate on the intersection of environmental advocacy and economic independence.

Asserting African sovereignty over its resources, Hundeyin insisted, “It is 100% OUR prerogative to determine what to do with our hydrocarbons,” rejecting external dictates cloaked in environmental concern. His position reinforces the importance of local agency in determining the future of Africa’s energy sector and the broader implications for economic autonomy.

Notably, Hundeyin distanced himself from any personal affiliation with Aliko Dangote while acknowledging the broader economic implications. “I’m also smart enough to know when rich white men… are trying to use me as a marionette,” he said, condemning attempts to exploit African influencers as pawns in larger economic games. Hundeyin’s statement reflects a nuanced understanding of bi-national economic tensions and the need for principled stances in journalism.

David Hundeyin

In a direct challenge, Hundeyin urged those feeling threatened by Nigeria’s oil independence to confront the issue directly. “You should come out and fight Aliko Dangote by yourself,” he challenged, maintaining his resolve against being manipulated. His call underscores an appeal for transparency and fortitude against covert economic warfare tactics.

Hundeyin’s resolute defiance is a testament to the resilience of African voices advocating for change and sovereignty. “It will never be me,” he vowed, underscoring his commitment to integrity and resistance against becoming an instrument of external interests. His stance draws attention to the broader theme of patriotism in preserving national interests amidst global pressures.

Widely shared and discussed, Hundeyin’s disclosures on his X handle rally fellow Nigerians and Africans to critically assess the motivations behind foreign interventions. The discourse highlights the importance of unity and vigilance in safeguarding the continent’s resources and economic potential. Hundeyin’s assertions have resonated with many who view the attempts to destabilize Nigeria’s oil independence as part of a larger pattern of neocolonialism, where foreign entities exert influence over Africa’s economic and political landscapes under various pretenses.

Amidst the growing discourse, some supporters emphasize the necessity of scrutinizing foreign-funded NGOs and their motives, advocating for increased transparency and accountability in African media and public policy initiatives. This incident involving David Hundeyin serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding resource management and international relations, urging a reevaluation of partnerships and alliances that truly serve African interests.

The broader conversation sparked by Hundeyin’s revelations could potentially lead to stronger regulatory frameworks and enhanced public awareness regarding the true purpose and impact of foreign interventions in Africa. By exposing such alleged plots, Hundeyin not only bolsters the call for economic sovereignty but also inspires a more conscientious approach towards sustainable development—one that prioritizes the genuine needs and aspirations of the African people over external influence. GMTNewsng