Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has officially confirmed that the preceding administration of the state did not make any financial investments in the recently commissioned 188MW Geometric Power Plant project within the State. This affirmation was conveyed through the Minister of Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Okey Kanu, during a press statement held on Tuesday at the Government House, Umuahia.
Addressing the assertions made by certain parties regarding the previous administration’s purported contributions to the project, Kanu emphasized the current government’s commitment to operating based on factual evidence rather than assumptions. He underscored that during the transition period, the incumbent administration did not receive any documentation validating the claims of financial involvement in the Geometric Power Plant.
Kanu further reiterated that the Geometric Power Plant operates as a private sector-led investment entity, emphasizing the absence of documented financial commitments from the state government to the project during the handover process.
Offering additional insights, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, emphasized the government’s adherence to specific protocols and standards in its operations. Ekeoma noted the absence of documented evidence to substantiate claims of financial commitments by the previous administration to the project.
Acknowledging statements made by representatives of the former government regarding agreements and investments in the Geometric Power Plant, Ekeoma stressed the necessity of tangible documentation to validate such claims. He highlighted the importance of having formal records to support any assertions of financial contributions or agreements made by the state government.
Regarding the significance of the 188MW Geometric Power Plant in Aba, Abia State, USAfricaonline.com recently provided insights into its role in the energy sector of the Southeast state. The completion of the project’s first phase occurred around 2013; however, it encountered numerous challenges, including regulatory, political, and legal issues, which persisted until 2022 under the Buhari administration. During that period, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) facilitated the transfer of the Aba Electricity Ringfenced area from EEDC/Interstate Electrics/FGN to Geometric. The commencement of operations was anticipated to begin in September 2023, initially utilizing one of its four General Electric brand turbines.
