● McGrigor Ugoezu
The Imo/Abia Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to swiftly resolve the natural gas supply issues affecting the Geometric Power plant in Osisioma, Aba. This move, they argue, will significantly enhance power availability in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, and revitalize the region’s struggling industries.
Speaking in an interview, Obasi Uba Ekeagbara, Chairman of MAN Imo/Abia Branch, expressed concern over the persistent closure of factories in the area, a situation he attributes to erratic power supply and inadequate raw materials. According to him, a steady power supply would breathe life into moribund factories and attract new investments to the region.
Ekeagbara, who is also the Executive Director of Akachi Industries Limited, revealed that MAN is making plans to meet with Bart Nnaji, Chairman of Geometric Power Limited, to discuss these challenges and explore the possibility of dedicated power lines from Geometric’s plant to key manufacturing facilities in Aba.
“If the gas issue is solved and Aba gets steady power supply, dead factories would be revived, while new investments would come into the area,” Ekeagbara said. “Gas is primarily their main raw material, and Bart Nnaji has a lot of burden on his shoulders in terms of loan repayment. Do you think that he will not generate power and sell to pay back his loans, if he has gas?”
He emphasized that the gas supply situation is not only affecting Geometric but also other high-stake ventures in the country. “I pity my friend (Bart) because it takes a lion’s heart to do what he is doing. To organize a consortium of investors and put up billions of Naira for such a large-scale investment, only to face these challenges, is heartbreaking.
“The same issues holding Dangote from producing cheaper fuel are holding Geometric Power back, because they don’t have access to gas. Why can’t the government grant these people access to gas and crude? There is something wrong somewhere,” he lamented.
The management of Geometric Power recently expressed concerns over the severe shortage of natural gas supply to its 188-megawatt plant in the Osisioma Industrial Estate. According to them, this has drastically hindered the plant’s capacity to meet its objectives, thereby stalling economic growth in the state.
Ugo Opiegbe, Managing Director of Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), the distribution arm of Geometric Power Group, highlighted the adverse impact on manufacturing firms, noting, “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. This project was designed to accelerate industrial development in Aba and its environs and serve as a model for electricity development in Nigeria, a nation whose growth has been severely hampered by the absence of reliable power.”
In light of these challenges, a source within the energy sector, who wished to remain anonymous, stressed the urgency of government intervention. “The Federal Government needs to prioritize resolving the gas supply issue for plants like Geometric. If they don’t, we risk more industries shutting down. A stable power source is crucial for manufacturing, especially in hubs like Aba, where economic activity is heavily dependent on consistent electricity.”
Similarly, an industrial consultant based in Lagos, Ahmed Bako, encouraged the government to act swiftly, pointing out the broader economic implications. “This isn’t just about Aba; it’s about the entire manufacturing sector in Nigeria. If plants like Geometric have access to steady gas supplies, industries can thrive, and we’ll see significant improvements in job creation, revenue generation, and overall industrial output.”
These calls for action reflect growing concerns about the future of Aba’s industrial base and underscore the importance of reliable energy supply in driving Nigeria’s economic development. GNTNewsng
