Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has declared a state of emergency in the power sector, stressing the importance of stable electricity to drive economic growth under his administration’s ARISE Agenda.
Speaking during the EXCO Ministerial Briefing and End-of-Year Review at the Government House, Uyo, on Tuesday, Eno outlined his vision for 24-hour power supply to stimulate the state’s economy. He announced plans to convene a Power Summit between January and March 2025 to assess challenges in the sector and propose solutions, including the creation of a Power Infrastructure Committee.
Highlighting the state’s N40 billion debt to Acugas, the gas supplier to the Ibom Power Plant, Eno expressed frustration with past management decisions, particularly those of the plant’s former Managing Director, Engr. Meyen Etukudo. The MD was sacked for publicly blaming Acugas for power outages, a move the governor deemed counterproductive.
“We are owing the gas company N40 billion, which is 7.9 million dollars, and the MD came out to make a press statement that they have cut off power,” Eno said. “Assuming we have youths that are irrational, that company would have been burnt down by now. You are owing somebody and still shouting; the right thing to do would have been to beg.”
The governor criticized the former MD for leaving the plant’s operations in the hands of a contractor during his leave, a decision Eno described as unacceptable.
“The greatest pain was an MD going on leave and handing over everything to a contractor, even putting it in writing for him to be in charge of the plant. I don’t know where that is done. It’s like handing your vehicle to a mechanic and saying, ‘If it has a problem, let me know.’ Definitely, that vehicle must develop a problem because the mechanic must eat.”
Eno reiterated his commitment to resolving the power sector’s challenges, stating, “We will set up a Power Infrastructure Committee to work with the commissioner and other stakeholders. A Power Summit will hold between January and March because this is an emergency.”
The governor commended the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Camillus Umoh, for bringing a new approach to the Ibom Power Company and expressed optimism about achieving the state’s energy goals.
Key stakeholders, including Chief Nduese Essien, Chief Sunny Udom, Rt. Hon Peter Linus Umoh, and HRM Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, praised Governor Eno’s transparency and accountability in governance, describing the stakeholders’ briefing as unprecedented.
