Federal Government in partnership with Abia State government is to establish a dedicated power plant in Ariaria area of Aba, to solve the energy needs of entrepreneurs, especially finished leather clusters (FLC) in that business corridor.
Ariaria International Market, touted to be the biggest market in Nigeria and West Africa, has about 250,000 shops, while the finished leather cluster, comprising shoes, bag and belt makers, which is also housed within Ariaria, has 18,400 shops in 14 clusters with about 16,000 people, directly engaged in the production of shoes, belt and bags.
Ariaria is an important economic zone, and the acting President Yemi Osinbajo and other stakeholders regard Aba as the manufacturing and small business hub of Nigeria.
The Federal Government intends to provide support for the growth and development of small businesses, as a deliberate strategy to grow the country’s economy and help provide jobs, a strategy that is championed by the acting President.
The Federal Government has watched with keen interest and satisfaction the efforts of the Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to promote and champion the cause of the Aba business community and bring it to national and global attention.
Consequently, a delegation from the acting President, led by Damilola Ogunbiyi, managing director, Rural Electrification Agency, was in Aba, Monday, July 31, 2017 to brief the Aba business community on the project.
Ogunbiyi, while briefing the stakeholders at the secretariat of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), said the acting President had directed that Ariaria International Market be provided with constant power.
She explained that the Agency was in Abia to do a forensic study on major interest areas that would enable easy take off of the project, which is focused on Ariaria.
According to Ogunbiyi, Governor Ikpeazu is so passionate about the project that he had made strong cases for electrification of the market, which according to him would bring respite to Aba manufacturers and other entrepreneurs who have craved for steady power supply to boost their businesses.
In her words, “We are here to find solution to the power challenge in Ariaria International Market in order to have adequate power so that we can have economic growth in the whole of Nigeria.”
On the capacity of power plant to be deployed at Ariaria, she said the survey, which is being planned for Ariaria, would determine the requirement of the area, stressing, “We are undertaking energy audit to decide the best solution for the area.”
Chinonye Nwaogu, senior special assistant to Abia State governor on youth empowerment, coordinator of the project, who was elated at the development, explained that state had built confidence among the artisans, through series of engagements and expressed optimism that the project would be a success.
“Over the two years that we have been in office, we have been able to engage our entrepreneurs and they already have confidence in the governor and his government. They trust us, and they know that we mean well for them.
“We have done a lot of things with them and they believe that we have their interest at heart, and so we won’t have a challenge selling this idea to them. And we are going to solve a major problem that they have that would improve their production and put more money into their pockets. It is really what we are going to do to improve the operating business environment in Ariaria, “he stated.
Ubani Nkagineme, managing director, Total Support Energy, a gas and power company, contractor to the project, promised to deliver the project in five months.
According to Nkagineme, “If operators in Ariaria Market cooperate with us, we will use two to three weeks to gather data that we need, then we will be able to advise government on how much power that is required there today and also project for the future.’
