Dr. Alex Otti, governor of Abia State, has urged leaders and stakeholders in the South East to adopt a coordinated regional energy masterplan as the cornerstone for industrialisation, economic revival and long-term prosperity, declaring that the region has the capacity to generate between 10,000 and 15,000 megawatts of electricity within a decade if its resources are properly harnessed.
Otti made the call on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the South East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders’ Forum held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
The event, organised by the Office of the Vice President, the Federal Ministry of Regional Development and the South East Development Commission (SEDC), brought together governors, policymakers, private sector leaders, development partners and community stakeholders to design a 50-year development roadmap for the region.
Speaking on the theme, “Powering industrialisation in the South East: the case for a regional energy strategy,” the governor said the region’s economic future depends largely on how quickly it resolves its long-standing electricity challenges.
Aba as evidence of what power can do
Otti pointed to Aba’s recent economic resurgence as evidence that reliable electricity can transform industrial fortunes. He said the commissioning of the Geometric Power plant and the creation of a ring-fenced electricity zone insulated from the national grid had restored investor confidence and revived businesses that had long collapsed.
According to him, hundreds of entrepreneurs who previously left Aba in frustration are now returning, while property values and commercial activities have surged due to improved power supply and infrastructure.
“Steady and predictable electricity supply has done more to revive Aba’s industrial tradition than any other single intervention,” he said.
Electricity Act 2023 changed the game
The Abia governor commended the Federal Government for the Nigerian Electricity Act of 2023, which liberalised the power sector and enabled states to participate directly in electricity generation, distribution and regulation.
He disclosed that Abia had already taken bold steps under the new law, including the establishment of a mini-grid regulatory framework, the acquisition of distribution assets from Interstate Electric, and the creation of the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA), which now oversees electricity regulation in the state in place of NERC.
Otti said the state’s long-term plan is to stabilise the market and eventually allow competent private investors to take over operations under a strong regulatory regime.
Untapped energy wealth across the region
He noted that the South East is richly endowed with diverse energy resources that remain largely untapped.
These include vast natural gas reserves in Imo State, crude oil in Abia, Imo and Anambra, coal deposits in Enugu and Ebonyi, and huge potential for solar, hydropower and biomass energy. He also referenced significant gas deposits in Ukwa West LGA of Abia near the Abia Industrial Innovation Park.
“What we lack is not resources but a deliberate, coordinated plan to document, optimise and deploy them for industrial-scale energy production,” he said.
He called for the creation of a comprehensive regional energy resource dossier to guide investment and policy decisions.
Coal should not be ignored
Otti addressed the debate around energy transition, arguing that coal, which is abundant in parts of the South East, should not be dismissed as an option for electricity generation.
He noted that major economies still rely on coal and questioned the logic of leaving the resource untapped while the region grapples with energy poverty.
“Africa contributes less than five per cent of global emissions. We cannot afford to stay in darkness in the name of energy transition,” he argued.
Investment, pricing and metering critical
The governor stressed that achieving energy sufficiency would require massive investment in generation plants, transmission infrastructure, substations, transformers and meters.
He advocated a model where government initially de-risks investments and later exits to allow private investors run the system profitably.
Otti also warned that unrealistic electricity pricing could drive investors away, while exploitative practices such as estimated billing must be eliminated.
He called for compulsory metering funded by service providers to ensure transparency and improve consumer trust.
Regional cooperation over competition
In his closing remarks, Otti urged South East states to prioritise cooperation over rivalry in pursuing a regional energy framework.
He suggested that instead of building entirely new plants that could take decades, existing facilities such as Geometric Power could be expanded with additional turbines and electricity wheeled to neighbouring states.
According to him, solving the electricity challenge is key not only to industrialisation but also to improvements in education, healthcare, security and overall living standards.
“With the right leadership and collaboration, the South East can build an energy system that will free our people from poverty, unemployment and the need to seek opportunities elsewhere,” he said.
Leave a Reply