Aba Power taps local producers for vehicles, cables, wires

• Innoson Motors, Cutix, others benefit

By Saby Elemba in Owerri.

Patrick Umeh, the managing director of the Aba Power Limited, has explained the  company’s preference for vehicles manufactured in Nigeria by Innoson Motors over other vehicles imported and sold in the country. 

The decision by the board and management of Aba Power Limited was driven by the need to show patriotism, but also on the basis of technical and cost competitiveness of Innoson’s products, Umeh stated. 

Umeh, a former commissioner in charge of markets, market rates and competition at the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), disclosed this in Aba,  after taking delivery of 25 brand new Innoson mini buses and six pick-up trucks.

This,  according  to him,  would go a long way to enhance the field operations of the power company’s staff, that Aba Power Limited ,“has been using Innoson vehicles and we are satisfied with the performance.

“Even before we began operations last year at Aba Power, a member of the Geometric Power group founded and chaired by Bart Nnaji, a former minister of power who has also been the minister of science and technology, we were instructed to give priority attention to Nigerian-made products and services which meet our standards,” he said.

Nnaji was one of the leading scientists and engineers in the world before he left the United States for Nigeria in 2004 to help revolutionise the country’s ailing power sector,  he added. 

Umeh, a former executive with the Los Angeles Water and Power Corporation in California, United States, revealed that Aba Power Limited,  last year acquired the latest model of Innoson’s pick-up van, saying it has been competing effectively with the Toyota Hilux brand in their fleet.

He stated further that Aba Power Limited purchased an Innoson passenger bus that seats 18 persons comfortably for its staff, and that  its performance has  been no less impressive, adding that Aba Power also placed an order for 81 Innoson mini buses and pick-up vans last month, and had  taken delivery of 31.

Umeh has also described the prices of the locally made vehicles as quite competitive and “good news in these economically trying times in the country. We plan to increase Innoson vehicles in our fleet soon.”

In furthering the patriotism mantra, the managing director disclosed that Aba Power Limited has, in line with Bart Nnaji’s vision, been buying locally manufactured cables and wires, including the ones used in the new 1,500-kilometre overhead wires in nine of the 17 local government areas of Abia State serviced by Aba Power to boost electricity supply in the ring-fenced area.

According to him, the wires were sourced, “from manufacturers like Cutix in Nnewi, Anambra State, which is a publicly traded company, and other producers like the ones in Ibadan in Oyo State, and in Arepo, Ogun State.

“Their wires and cables are among the best anywhere in the world, and Nigerian people and businesses easily attest to this fact,” he assured.

Umeh, acknowledged that patriotism and nationalism drive his company’s massive patronage of Nigerian goods and services.

Stating that it is rare to find American government officials drive foreign auto brands, including those manufactured or assembled in the United States, Umeh pointed out that the same applies to government officials in places like Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, France, and China.

According to him, “even when Indian and Chinese vehicles were not competing effectively with foreign brands regarding technical quality and aesthetics, their government leaders insisted on driving them and made visiting foreign dignitaries ride in them.

“What does that tell you? Charity starts at home because patriotic acts like this provide jobs for your people, create immense business opportunities, transfer technology, and conserve foreign exchange,” he stated.

He further remarked that massive domestic support for Chinese auto manufacturers enabled China to become within a short period the world’s biggest auto market.

“Chinese auto firms like BYD (Build Your Dream) are now leading global vehicle producers and the greatest manufacturers of electricity vehicles as well as batteries which power electricity vehicles.

“This is an important lesson to all Nigerians who want our country’s economy to grow rapidly,” he said.