Geometric Power Plant Aba Commissioned By V.P Kashin Shettima. Dr. Alex Otti Address.

The Power to Dream
BEING TEXT OF SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE, DR. ALEX C. OTTI, OFR, AT THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING OF GEOMETRIC POWER PLANT, OSISIOMA INDUSTRIAL LAYOUT, ABA, ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2024.
Protocol,
1. It is with a great sense of fulfilment that I welcome everyone who has come from far and near to be part of this epoch-making event; the commissioning of Geometric Integrated Power Project, a 141MW, expandable to 188MW power generation and distribution facility built to supply uninterrupted electricity to businesses and households across 9 local governments in Abia State within the Aba ring-fenced area.
2. I am very honoured to welcome His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, members of the Federal Executive Council, and other very senior government officials to Abia State, God’s Own State, and particularly to Aba, The Enyimba City.
3. The Vice President’s presence here points to the great significance of today’s event. It also speaks to the commitment of the Federal Government to support private sector investors in the search for a robust model for the electricity value chain in the country.
4. Permit me to also welcome other very important dignitaries from the public and private sectors, who have come to witness the dawn of a new era in the business of electricity generation, transmission and distribution in Nigeria.
5. It would be fair to appreciate at this point, Prof. Barth Nnaji, the board, management, and staff of Geometric Power Limited and all the partners whose vision, diligence and resilience saw to the actualisation of the project we have gathered for its commissioning.
6. Commendations are also due to elite group of public sector officials and multinational partners who gave so much to see that Aba Geometric Power Plant and its array of support facilities and structures are completed - despite several frustrating twists and turns.
7. The commitment of the Federal Government to the actualisation of what started off as a pipe dream 20 years ago, the faith of the financial partners, the goodwill of the Aba business community, and very importantly, the patience of the investors, tell a very exciting story of what we can achieve as Nigerians when we mobilise ourselves and resources to take on any task.
8. As a leader in the private sector many years ago, and now as the Governor of the State, I consider the Geometric Integrated Power Project to be very special and dear to my heart because of the immense potential it holds for the economic and social rejuvenation of Aba as a preferred destination for enterprise growth, family life and leisure.
9. Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to share my story with Geometric. In 2010, Prof. Barth Nnaji came to see me in First Bank, Lagos, where I served as an Executive Director. He needed the support of the bank to complete the project, the funding of which had been unfortunately stopped two years before, by the bank that originally started the project. This bank happened to be Diamond Bank. After securing approval for an $85m facility from First Bank of Nigeria, Geometric Power could not draw on the facility as it had become public knowledge that I was resuming as the Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank, shortly. As I resumed in Diamond on March 1, 2011, I put together a team that saw to the restructuring of the challenged facility and resumed funding of the project to completion. By the time I left Diamond towards the end of 2014, the three General Electric turbines and the 27km gas pipeline were in place. A combination of factors including ownership tussle over the Aba ring fence, sale of the oil block where the feed gas was going to come from to a new investor, and additional funding challenges conspired to delay project delivery for close to 10 years. On assumption of office May 29, 2023, my team and I quickly folded our sleeves and started working with Geometric to resolve the gas supply problem by directly interfacing with top management of NNPC and today we have gas flowing to the turbines. Just as recorded in Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to them that love God”. I’m therefore pleased that 14 years down the line, God arranged everything such that the final resolution of all the issues and the firing of the turbines would happen when He had handed over the mantle of stewardship to me. May His name be glorified!
10. I consider it appropriate to acknowledge the efforts of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, who gave the initial waivers to Geometric, thereby derisking the transaction. I thank specifically, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, who was the Chairman of Diamond Bank at the time, and who played a significant role in the resolution of the ownership tussle of the ring fence tussle. I cannot fail to recognise Prof. Okey Oramah, who got Afreximbank
Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR,
Governor, Abia State
26/02/2024.

[@jessicaizuokafor]

Congratulations to ndi Abia!
Congratulations to ndị Enyimba!!
Congratulations to ndị Igbo!!!
Prof. Barth Nnaji, congratulations for the actualization of this milestone!
They frustrated your efforts to make electricity generation, distribution and stabilization in Nigeria, a reality, but to God be the glory, they'll have to come borrow a leaf from Enyimba city of Biafra land. God bless you our divine Moses, H. E. A. C. OTTI. WE LOVE YOU