UK, Abia partner in digital transformation, power, as state supports S’East gas project

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The United Kingdom has expressed its readiness to strengthen partnership with the Abia State government in digital transformation, power, trade, investment, and other areas capable of accelerating economic development in the state.

Also, the Abia State government has promised to support the realisation of the South East Gas Distribution Programme.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, who is on a visit to Abia, stated this when he led a team from the British High Commission on a courtesy visit to Governor Alex Otti, at his office. Mr. Baxter said the United Kingdom values its strong partnership with Nigeria, describing it as one built on shared interests, values, and experiences.

“The United Kingdom has a really strong partnership with Nigeria. It is a partnership based on so many shared interests, values, and  experiences in so much depth, and it is a partnership that, on the UK side, we value massively,” Baxter said.

He informed that the partnership has continued to expand beyond diplomatic relations to include economic cooperation, trade, investment, technology, and development initiatives.

Baxter said the UK is particularly interested in supporting initiatives that enable different parts of Nigeria to realise their economic potential, disclosing that two United Kingdom supported programmes are currently going on in Abia State.

He mentioned the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) programme, which is supporting efforts in Abia to mobilise private finance for an integrated waste management and recycling project, in partnership with Kaltani, as one of the initiatives.

Mr. Baxter also mentioned the Digital Access Programme (DAP), which he said is focused on helping states create the right policy, regulatory and institutional environment for digital inclusion and expansion of the digital economy as another of the UK-assisted programmes rolling in the state.

He said the programme will support policy and regulatory development, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement, with activities in Abia aimed at ensuring that more residents can participate in the digital economy.

“The UK’s Digital Access Programme has previously supported digital inclusion, digital skills, and policy development in Nigeria”.

The Deputy High Commissioner disclosed that the UK is also working with two communities of Arochukwu and Okporoenyi to establish sustainable connectivity hubs where residents can access the internet and digital services.

On the migration summit to be hosted by Abia, he said the discussion around creating incentives for people to remain and contribute to their communities is important, while noting that people who migrate should also be better informed about the realities they may encounter abroad. He assured the governor that the UK would continue to explore opportunities for partnership with Abia State government, business, and company levels, including connecting Abia businesses with potential UK partners and supply chains.

Governor Otti, while thanking the British delegation, assured them that the state is open to partnerships capable of strengthening its economic development. The governor particularly welcomed Baxter’s visit to the Geometric Power Plant, describing electricity as central to the success of Abia’s manufacturing and business community.

Governor Otti said his administration is working to expand reliable electricity supply across the state, stressing that the cost of unreliable power is ultimately higher for businesses because of dependence on generators, diesel, and maintenance.

“Once you have reliable power, whatever the cost is, it is still going to be cheaper than not having reliable power,” the governor said.

Governor Otti noted that Aba has a strong manufacturing base, particularly in footwear, garments, and other locally produced goods, and said the state government is working with partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to improve finishing, packaging and export opportunities for locally made products.

On waste management, the governor welcomed the information that Kaltani is working with UK partners, saying the state is interested in moving beyond waste collection to recycling and the conversion of waste into useful products and energy.

Baxter had earlier visited the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, where he expressed satisfaction with what he saw on ground, stating that reliable and affordable electricity remains one of the major constraints to economic development in Nigeria.

He commended the effort behind the integrated power project, particularly the use of reliable metering technology to build trust between electricity providers and consumers.

The visit was part of the Deputy High Commissioner’s two-day official engagement in Abia, with discussions focusing on priority areas, including power, trade and commerce, digital transformation, transportation, education, and governance, as well as engagements with key stakeholders and tours of major projects in the state.

Meanwhile, the Abia State government has promised her support for the realisation of the South East Gas Distribution Programme.

Governor Otti pledged the support when he received in audience representatives of Gas Sync Limited, SAYS Energy Group, and NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, who came to give him an update on the South East Gas Distribution Programme.

The project, endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and Gas, seeks to promote the utilisation of gas to drive economic and industrial development in the country. The delegation acknowledged Abia State as a critical industrial corridor in the South East and highlighted the importance of the state to the successful implementation of the programme.

While assuring the delegation of the support of the state government for the realisation of the project, the governor directed further engagement with the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to discuss, in details, some of the demands made by the delegation on the state government for the successful implementation of the project.