Akwa-Ibom Governor declares state of emergency on power
Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno has declared a state of emergency in the power sector to ensure a more regular power supply in the state.
Recall that the governor, a month ago, ordered the sacking of the former Managing Director of the Ibom Power Plant, Engr, Meyen Etukudo for issuing a press statement accusing Acugas company for being responsible for the protracted power outage experienced in the state at the time.
Eno noted that the sacked MD failed to use diplomacy in dealing with the gas company with which the state government was heavily indebted to the tune of about 40 billion naira.
Speaking at the second day of the ongoing EXCO Ministerial briefing/end of year review taking place at the Banquet Hall, Government House Uyo, the governor stated that power remains critical in the drive to actualise each of the components of the ARISE Agenda.
Eno while highlighting the importance of power in igniting the economy of the state, disclosed that a power summit would be convened to enable a thorough review of the current state of affairs in the sector as well as set modalities for regular power supply in the State, aside setting up a Power Infrastructure committee to overseer affairs in the sector.
He said, “We are owing the gas company N40 billion that is 7.9 million dollars and the MD came out to make press statement that they have cut off power.
“Assuming we have youths that are irrational, that company would have been burnt down by now. You are owning somebody and still shouting, the right thing to do would have been to beg.
” I have an idea of what is going on at Ibom power, I believe that together we can come out of this. I believe that Akwa Ibom can generate power 24/7 and this is the mandate the commissioner of power has.
” The greatest pain of this was an MD going on leave and handing over everything to a contractor and even put it in writing for him to be in charge of the plant. I don’t know where that is done. It’s just like handling over your vehicle to a mechanic and said if it has problem let me know, definitely that vehicle must develop problem because the mechanic must eat.”
“But as I said, the issue is that we are going to set up a power infrastructure committee to work with the commissioner and other power stakeholders to hold a power summit and tell us the way forward and this must happen between January and March it is an emergency.”
The governor who stated that his vision is to deliver 24-hour power supply and use that to ignite the state’s economy, commended the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Camillus Umoh for engendering a paradigm shift in the workings of the Ibom Power Company and expressed hope that the State would strive to achieve its goals in the sector.
In their separate remarks, critical stakeholders including Chief Nduese Essien, Chief Sunny Udom, both former members of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Peter Linus Umoh, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, and Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Edidem Bassey Etim Edet appreciated the Governor for hosting an unprecedented stakeholder briefing with transparency and accountability in governance as his watchwords.