President Goodluck Jonathan says his administration is committed to the total transformation of the power sector to boost economic development of the country.
Jonathan who stated this while commissioning the phase 1, 504 mw Gas Alaoji Power station in Aba, Abia state, described power as the key to development without which small and medium scale businesses cannot survive, stressing that accounts for why his administration has decided to set up Nigeria Development Bank to support small businesses.
According to him, “when I was the vice president, I inspected all the moribund NIPP projects in the country based on the negative report we got. With the amount of funds government had spent, it was wrong for the project to be abandoned.
“ I am happy today that the first phase of this project has been completed and other components of the second phase are already on ground and that is the focus of this administration to provide adequate power supply that would energies our micro, Small and medium scale business.
While welcoming the President to the event, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedum Nebo said the commissioning of the project would boost industrialization, small and medium scale businesses as well as create job opportunities in the zone.
Nebo disclosed that the Alaoji power plant was the fourth to be commissioned after the Geregu 434MW, Omotoso 500mw, Olorosogun 750mw adding that six more power plants are awaiting commissioning before the end of the year.
He stated that the transformation agenda of the present administration has been that of unbroken record with 300 rural electricity projects completed across the country with more hydro power plants on board.
Speaking at the occasion, Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji expressed gratitude to the President for the project which he said will boost the economy of the state.
The governor went down memory lane on how the project was stalled during the kidnapping era in the state and commended Jonathan for supporting the state to rout the kidnappers.
Orji added the state government has offered a land with C of O to build an estate for the workers of the power station and pleaded with the president to assist the state in developing the housing estate.
