Aba, the commercial city of Abia State, was agog yesterday, Tuesday, as President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the ‘Ariaria Market Independent Power Plant’ (IPP).
The project was one of the promises made by General Buhari in 2015 and Ariaria market was included, following the facts, it’s a market that houses thousands of shops in South-East.
Buhari who stormed Aba to commission the projects was received at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, by the Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu. He thanked the governor and pledged that his administration will continue to execute people-oriented projects around the country irrespective of party differences.
“I thank Your Excellency, Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State, for your support to this project from the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. Thanks for your cooperation; without your cooperation, our work would not have been smooth.
‘‘Today with policies and programmes such as this IPP we have demonstrated that if the common good is our mutual objective, it can be achieved irrespective party differences and constitutional limitations.
‘‘Electricity has no political colour,’’ the President said in his speech at the inauguration of the plant.
Meanwhile, below is the seven things we facts-checked on the project.
https://twitter.com/realREANigeria/status/1090231604671320065
7 things you should know about Ariaria Market Independent Power Plant (IPP):
- The project was executed by the Nigeria’s ministry of power in partnership with Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the support of the Governor Ikpeazu led Abia State government.
- REA is the official Government agency that promotes, coordinates and provides Rural Electrification across Nigeria. They are providing 24/7 power for Major markets across the country.
- The Ariaria Market Independent Power Project (IPP) consists of the following – a gas-fired power plant, an extensive distribution network and robust metering systems for each shop.
- Through IPP, 4000 shops will now be connected to a gas-fired power plant with metering systems in each shop, ending estimated billing.
- Over 15,000 SMEs are currently receiving affordable and constant power supply to run their businesses. The project has created 250 direct jobs and 370 indirect jobs so far.
- Customers at Ariaria Int’l Market receive the best customer service experience from an on-site customer service shop is built & managed by the private sector developer, AMESL.
- Other markets where the power plant has been active are; Sabon Gari Market (Kano State), and Sura Shopping Complex (Lagos State).
