Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has stated that electricity must no longer be treated as a luxury in the state, insisting it is a fundamental enabler of modern life and development.
In his remarks on Thursday in Ikot Ekpene, while inaugurating the Akwa Ibom Electricity Summit, Mr Eno lamented the paradox of abundant energy resources and a state-owned Ibom Power plant that has yet to deliver optimal service despite its 191MW installed capacity and billions of naira sunk into its operation.
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“Our vision for total electricity access is anchored on a simple principle – electricity must not be seen as a luxury. It is a fundamental enabler of modern life,” the governor said.
“When a rural health clinic has steady power, lives are saved. When our farmers can process and store their produce, income rises. When our artisans have reliable energy, productivity soars. When our children can study under good lighting, the future becomes even brighter,” Mr Eno added.
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Electricity transition in Nigeria
For decades, Nigeria’s electricity sector has undergone several reforms, with the promise of better power supply, but has delivered little relief. The long-defunct National Electric Power Authority, notorious for erratic supply, was replaced in 2005 by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Yet, there has been no improvement in power supply.
By 2013, PHCN was unbundled into generation and distribution companies under a privatisation scheme, while transmission remained federally controlled. Yet, blackouts continued, despite billions of naira being sunk into the sector.
The Electricity Act 2023 offers a new transition, empowering states, individuals, and private investors to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity within their borders.
The law decentralises regulation, giving sub-nationals the authority to create electricity markets and regulatory commissions to expand access, spur competition, and attract investment into clean and reliable energy.
Leveraging the law, and with the state-owned 191 megawatt Ibom Power Plant, Governor Eno announced plans to establish the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Regulatory Commission, which will take over from the federal regulator, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
“The summit should chart a roadmap and be seen as a call to action, with a clear timeline outlining who should do what, when the action will be completed, and what the clear expectations are.
“Electricity access is the backbone of our Arise Agenda (the state government development blueprint), driving rural development and assisting vulnerable households to have clean power and water,” Mr Eno stressed.
‘Reliable electricity for all Akwa Ibom people’ – deputy governor
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Akon Eyakenyi, who doubles as the chairperson of the summit planning committee, said the era of erratic power supply must end, telling participants that the summit is to chart a new course to create a sustainable sub-national electricity market that delivers reliable energy to homes and enterprises.
Mrs Eyakenyi noted that the new state electricity law, signed earlier this year, lays the foundation for an inclusive market that attracts private capital, strengthens regulation, and ensures no citizen is left behind. “Every household and enterprise must have access to reliable power,” she affirmed.
She said the Electricity Act 2023 has provided the foundation for Akwa Ibom to provide an electricity market, designed to serve the needs of the people, attract private investment, and ensure that every household and enterprise has access to reliable power.
“Our state is blessed with abundant natural resources, growing renewable potential, and a proven generation company in Ibom Power, yet we still face unreliable supply, underserved communities, and a heavy dependence on the natural grid.
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“This summit signals our determination to change that story. The purpose of the summit, with the theme, ‘Attaining energy security and universal access for Akwa Ibom state within the framework of the Nigerian electricity supply industry,’ captures our ambition.
“We are here to align politics, policy, and investment with the technical and financial reforms that can offer real change.
“At the end of the summit, a realistic action programme will be discussed, validated, and delivered to outline the steps required to operationalise the state electricity market and to deliver a reliable electricity access to our people,” the deputy governor said.
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