Governor Otti Calls for South East Energy Master Plan, Says Region Can Generate 15,000MW in 10 Years

Enugu, Nigeria – The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has called for a coordinated and sustainable South East regional energy strategy to drive industrialization and long-term economic revival, declaring that the zone has the capacity to generate between 10,000 and 15,000 megawatts of electricity within the next decade if resources are properly harnessed.

Governor Otti made the remarks at the South East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders’ Forum in Enugu, where he delivered an address titled “Powering industrialization in the South East: the case for a regional energy strategy.” The forum, organised under the Office of the Vice President, the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, and the South East Development Commission (SEDC), gathered governors, policymakers, private sector leaders, and community representatives to map a 50-year development plan for the region.

Otti stressed that the South East can no longer operate in isolation and must embrace collective strategies to unlock its economic potential. He cited Aba as a model, noting that the commissioning of the Geometric Power plant revitalized the city’s industrial sector, spurring business resurgence, real estate growth, and job creation.

“Power is the foundation of industrial growth, and the modern Aba is proof that steady and predictable electricity supply directly translates into increased investments and higher enterprise outputs,” Otti said. He highlighted the Aba ring-fenced electricity zone as a model that could be replicated across the region.

The governor commended federal reforms under the Nigerian Electricity Act 2023, which liberalized the sector and allowed states and private entities to participate in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. Abia State has since enacted a mini-grid regulatory framework, acquired distribution assets formerly owned by Interstate Electric, and established the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) to oversee the sector locally.

Otti proposed a three-pronged framework for a South East regional energy strategy:

1. Resource identification and optimisation – tapping vast natural gas, crude oil, coal, solar, hydro, and biomass resources.
2. Sustained investment in energy infrastructure – including power plants, transmission lines, substations, and metering systems.
3. Adoption of an effective market model – where governments initially de-risk investments and later allow competent private sector management under regulatory oversight.

He argued that coal, abundant in Enugu and Ebonyi, should remain part of the region’s energy mix, pointing out that major industrial nations still rely heavily on coal. Otti maintained that Africa’s minimal share of global emissions does not justify energy deprivation while domestic resources remain untapped.

On electricity pricing, the governor warned against estimated billing and called for compulsory metering to ensure transparency and accountability. He urged South East states to collaborate rather than compete, suggesting the expansion of existing plants like Geometric Power to share electricity across state boundaries.

“We are better together. A regional energy master plan is central not only to industrialization but also to improvements in education, healthcare, security, and overall quality of life,” Otti said. He expressed confidence that with strategic leadership, collaboration, and long-term commitment, the South East could build an energy system that is enterprise-focused, service-driven, resilient, and transformative.