Grid Collapse: Engineering Consultant Suggests Geometric Power Model.

An Abuja-based engineer and electricity consultant, Dike Ejike, has recommended the Geometric Power Model of electricity development to tackle such issues as constant national grid collapse.

The national grid collapsed this afternoon, the second this year and the 14th in the last 12 months, though no reason has been given officially for the failure.

Engr Ejike said in a statement in the Federal Capital Territory that communities, businesses, voluntary organizations, and households in the Aba Ringfence covering nine of the 17 local government areas (LGAs) in Abia State was minimally affected by the grid failure because the ringfence generates and distributes its own electricity.

“The Geometric Power Group”, he explained, “is Nigeria’s foremost integrated electricity organization because it is autonomous whereas other power companies in the country are mostly generating ones known as GenCos or distributing companies called DisCos.

“Geometric Power has a GenCo component and an embedded DisCo known as Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th DisCo.

“That’s why it wasn’t much affected by the latest power collapse”.

The consultant stated that immediately the collapse occurred, the Geometric Power plant started a 47MW turbine to replace the 25MW it still receives from the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) because of the initial difficulties it was having with full gas supplies from the Oil Mining Licence (OML) 17 in Owaza, Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.

According to Engr Ejike, the first lesson from the Geometric Power experience in handling national grid collapse is the need to have generation companies and substations that can operate independently.

He, therefore, advocated the building of small hydropower stations and solar power plants, including from abandoned dams across the country.

“Another lesson”, Ejike said, “is the need to have a second national grid.

“There is no compelling reason for a nation of over 200m to have only one grid which is unfortunately old, poorly managed and fragile”.

The consultant also lauded the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, for proposing to split various DisCos because of the large swathes of territories they cover.

“One reason that Aba Power has over its peers is the manageable area it services”, he added.

“Experience has shown that the smaller the coverage area, the better’.

EU, Enugu Government to Partner on Power and Infrastructure

The European Union (EU) and the Enugu State Government have reaffirmed their commitment to exploring potential partnerships in the power and infrastructure sectors to drive economic growth and development in the state.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Massimo De Luca, during his working visit to Governor Peter Mbah at Government House, Enugu.

Mr. De Luca emphasized Enugu State’s strategic importance to the EU, noting that it had emerged as a key partner in several areas, particularly in renewable energy. He highlighted ongoing projects such as solar-to-health and small hydro-power generation, which are expected to provide uninterrupted electricity to industrial clusters.

“A specific focus, which has emerged over the last couple of years, is renewable energy, and Enugu is one of the selected number of states partnering with us on a number of renewable energy initiatives. One of them is solar-to-health.

“We are working for the electrification of primary health centres in the state, and the model we are adopting is one that will ensure sustainability,” he stated.

Discussing infrastructure development, the EU official lamented that some past projects had suffered neglect due to poor maintenance culture and a lack of sustained interest. He, however, stressed the importance of local authorities’ involvement in ensuring the success of these initiatives.

“This time, we are involving the local authorities fully in the primary health sector, and even the private sector, so that infrastructure, which we will deploy in partnership with the state authority, will be taken over by a management structure that ensures the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure. That also means that the solar installations that we are building should not only serve the health centres but also the ecosystem,” he said.

Mr. De Luca expressed optimism that the partnership would result in projects that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the primary healthcare system while providing better services to citizens.

“We are also looking at different types of renewable energy operations, and more of them to be connected to agriculture. It is a small hydro, which is a technology where the European Union is particularly advanced and can be deployed without upsetting the environment. It can contribute to the electrification of the area with its own hydro-generation plants,” he added.

Governor Peter Mbah, on his part, reiterated the state’s keen interest in forging a development partnership with the EU, noting that many of its initiatives align with his administration’s vision of eradicating poverty and fostering exponential economic growth.

“Our vision is to eradicate poverty—to achieve a zero percent rate in our poverty headcount. We have, in pursuit of that objective, invested hugely in our social sector, building 260 smart schools and 260 Type-2 primary healthcare centres.

“We can see a major alignment when you talk of investment because beyond eradicating poverty in our state, we have the vision to grow our economy exponentially, and we see that coming from outside investment—private sector investments from multilateral and bilateral relationships.

“Given our private sector backgrounds, we know how we can structure investment in a manner that is a win-win for all parties, whether with the private sector or the EU investments.

“We are also interested in other areas that you have mentioned. Grassroots for us is particularly of interest because we believe that we cannot grow at the expense of our downtrodden – those in the rural areas.

“If you look at our budget tagline, you will get things like exponential growth and inclusive prosperity. This means that you have to grow even the weakest among us. So, we are investing hugely in basic amenities and expanding economic opportunities for those in the rural areas,” he said.

Mbah further called for the strengthening of the existing relationship to expand new areas of interest in renewable energy, particularly initiatives such as solar-for-health and solar-for-education. These, he noted, would power smart screens, ICT centres, robotics, and artificial intelligence laboratories in the smart green schools across the state’s 260 electoral wards. GMTNewsng

Shettima Inaugurates Presidential Committee on Economic, Financial Inclusion, Eyes $1 Trillion Economy by 2030

Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The event, held in Abuja, also featured the signing of an investment agreement by private sector stakeholders to provide foundational infrastructure for the full implementation of the Aso Accord Initiative.

Speaking at the inauguration, Shettima emphasized the urgency of the task ahead, noting that bridging financial gaps for millions of unbanked Nigerians is key to unlocking the country’s economic potential. “We’re not here for a ceremonial exercise; we’re here to remind ourselves of the scale of responsibility and urgency of our mission,” he said. “A $1 trillion economy by 2030 is not a distant ambition—it is an achievable goal requiring strategic education, innovative thinking, and unwavering commitment.”

The Vice President called on members of the newly inaugurated committee to bring their expertise and dedication to the table. “I urge every member of this committee to bring their wealth of experience, passion, and diligence to this task. I call on our investors to place their confidence in us. Every resource committed will be leveraged to build an all-inclusive and prosperous Nigeria,” Shettima assured.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described the initiative as a fundamental pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “It’s a pivotal instrument designed to drive inclusive growth by ensuring that every economically active Nigerian has access to essential financial services,” he explained.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State underscored the need for economic policies that prioritize the most vulnerable. “We cannot grow our economy at the expense of our common humanity. This means that we have to carry the weakest among us. We must design programs and policies that target those who are vulnerable,” he stated.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State highlighted the stark reality of poverty in Nigeria, noting that nearly 70% of people in his state live below the poverty line. “That’s the last statistic before us. If we address this issue effectively, with the leadership given to us by the Vice President and the commitment of all stakeholders here today, I have no doubt that we will make significant progress within the shortest possible time,” he asserted.

The Aso Accord Initiative, which was a key highlight of the event, aims to strengthen financial infrastructure and expand access to credit for small businesses, startups, and rural entrepreneurs. The investment agreement signed by private sector leaders is expected to accelerate the implementation of these goals, ensuring financial services reach even the most remote communities.

Stakeholders at the event lauded the federal government’s approach to economic transformation, noting that the strategy aligns with global best practices in financial inclusion. Industry experts and investors pledged their commitment to supporting the initiative, emphasizing that a robust financial ecosystem is critical for sustained economic growth.

With the Presidential Committee now in place, expectations are high that Nigeria’s journey toward a $1 trillion economy will gain momentum. Analysts predict that with effective execution, increased private sector involvement, and sustained government commitment, the ambitious target could be well within reach before the end of the decade. GMTNewsng