Paul Chukwuma seeks advice to replicate Aba Power in Anambra, predicts manufacturing boom in S’East

By Tony Okafor

The Pro-Chancellor of Olivia University, Burundi who also doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria-Burundi Business Council, has predicted that the South-East will become a bastion of manufacturing in the next 10 years urging the Governors of the region to work in synergy to make it a reality.

Chukwuma stated this during a visit to Geometrics Power Aba, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, for a study visit to the plant to understand the working principles and business model of the Aba Integrated Power Plant and seek technical advice on replicating the same in Anambra state.

Speaking during an interactive session with Prof Barth Nnaji and the members of his management team at the conference hall of the Aba Power, Chukwuma congratulated Prof. Barth Nnaji for a job well done, praising his vision and steadfastness in seeing the project through.

Chukwuma said, ” I want to commend you for your commitment and perseverance to this project despite the litany of challenges. It shows unbridled love for nation-building.

“Staying for 20 years on this project despite the challenging business climate and various commercial litigation is a testimony of your commitment to the progress of Ndigbo and Nigeria. You have done a noble act by providing an empirical proof of concept for others, having set in motion a chain reaction with an enormous positive loop for our country.

“The effect of this project on the economy of Aba and by extension the South-East will be far-reaching. The expected result is that many businesses will move into Aba to utilise this reliable energy, especially manufacturing businesses. When this happens we expect to see the unemployment rate in Aba and its environs drop alongside youth restiveness”

“As an entrepreneur from Umueri in Anambra state, my visit to your facility partly finds an expression in the biblical invitation to Apostle Paul to come over to Macedonia for help. There is no gain in saying the fact that Anambra is losing its position as a commercial centre due to the absence of reliable energy such that many industries have gone under and the remaining few are struggling to survive.

“The bold steps you have taken to ensure reliable energy in the ring fence is an indication that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Against this background, I seek for partnership between your companies and the manufacturing arm of our group of companies. While we may be tempted to seek relocation of some of our ongoing manufacturing installations from Anambra to the Geometrics Power ring fence, we also know that this can be replicated in Anambra state so that many more businesses can benefit and the effects sync with that of Aba to give an ultra boost to commerce in the South-East and perhaps, produce the “Asian Miracle” for Nigeria.”

In his response, Prof Barth Nnaji gave a rundown on the project history, stating that the project took him 20 years to complete due to lots of man-made bottlenecks and that the ideal completion date ought to be three years.

Nnaji said,” I began this project in 2004 and by the time I became a Minister in 2011, almost everything was ready. In truth, it was on the strength of what we have done here that I was invited to become a Minister. Various issues came up and the project took two decades to get completed.”

Continuing, Prof Nnaji said the Aba Power consisted of three different companies; the companies being the generating company which would generate power and sell to the transmitting company which in return would sell to the distribution company.

He further added that the power plant would focuse on improving knowledge by employing lots of local staffers who would work seamlessly with expatriates from various countries.

From the conference room, Prof Nnaji and his team took Paul Chukwuma and his team on a guided tour of the facilities, including the generating plant where the turbines were already roaring.

At the end of the tour, Paul Chukwuma thanked Professor Barth Nnaji for the reception and tour, noting that he would continue to seek his advice as he continues to seek various options for the supply of reliable energy for businesses in Anambra State.

Chukwuma said,”My visit here has provided me with a lot of insight into the various issues affecting electricity in Nigeria. I will go home and distil the information further. Be assured that I will continue to reach out to you for more advice and guidance till the Anambra business community has something to cheer about ”

Sir Paul Chukwuma was accompanied to Aba Power by several businessmen and technocrats from Anambra State.