The Abia State Government has vehemently refuted claims of a $5 million investment in the Aba Geometric Power Project, despite assertions by the former administration’s spokesperson. This denial was voiced by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Okey Kanu, and Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Contrary to the alleged investment, Kanu emphasized that there was no financial commitment by the previous administration to the Geometric Power Project during the handover to the present government. He stressed that the Geometric Power Plant is a private sector-led investment company, and any claims of state investment lack substantiating documentation.
Ekeoma echoed these sentiments, stating that the current administration does not possess any documents confirming the state’s financial commitment to the project. While acknowledging statements from the former government’s spokesperson and a former commissioner of information, Ekeoma emphasized the need for concrete evidence before making any claims.
“We are not dismissing what the former government said, but all we are saying is that we would need to have a document. You cannot go to geometric and begin to claim you did so and so thing when, in actual sense, you have nothing to show for it,” stated Ekeoma.
The controversy arises following the recent commissioning of the Geometric Power Project by Vice President Kashim Shettima, sparking debates over the state’s alleged entitlement to a five percent share based on the claimed investment.
The State Government officials maintain that, until concrete evidence is presented, the assertions of financial commitment by the previous administration remain unsubstantiated.