By Bassey Nkponam
IKOT EKPENE
The Federal government has assured states including Akwa Ibom, of partnership in their resolve to delivering sustainable and reliable electricity supply for the citizenry.
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, gave the assurance, Thursday, at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, during the opening of the maiden Akwa Ibom State Electricity Summit 2025, themed, “Fulfilling the Promise of Reliable, Affordable and Universal Access to Electricity in Our State”.
Represented by his chief technical adviser, Mr Adedayo Olowoniyi, the minister urged the state government to effectively coordinate with the federal government to ensure it aligns with the national framework.
He lauded the State government and the people, for taking bold and decisive steps towards securing the State’s energy future.
Adelabu said the approval of the Akwa Ibom Electricity policy, the signing into law of the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Law, 2025, and the convening of the summit, with experts and stakeholders from both federal and state levels, and the private sector reflects a visionary approach to shaping a viable roadmap for the Akwa Ibom State electricity market.
He acknowledged the exemplary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under whose Renewed Hope agenda, the country was witnessing reforms and remarkable progress across the power sector, recalling that it was through the Electricity Act 2023 signed into law that state governments were empowered to play active role in electricity market and development.
The minister said the summit was a direct manifestation of the transformative vision which seeks to decentralise electricity market and has subnational participation and ultimately improve energy access to the people.
Adelabu reaffirmed that the federal government through the Ministry of Power and its agencies, would partner the state as it embarks on the development of its electricity market, urging it to partner the federal government to realise its result of delivering reliable and affordable electricity to its people.
According to him, such ambition could be realised through collaboration, cooperation and strong partnership between federal, state and local governments.
Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, while noting the abundance of energy potentials in the state, lamented that it has not been fully utilized, as end users still grapple with epileptic, unreliable power supply, while many communities are underserved.
Eno queried the rationale behind the non-workability of the State-owned Ibom Power Company with installed capacity of 191MW since its establishment in 2001, despite the huge investment in it by government.
“These are very hard questions, and we will dare to tread on grounds that angels fear to tread on during this summit. The hard questions must be asked; answers must be proffered; and actions must be taken to get our power sector working excellently to benefit our people and our State. What clear path can we tread to make it work, despite the huge resources that have been sunk into its operations of which, we, today, are still repaying their bank loan of $10million (ten million dollars). What do we need to do to get our IPC working to the benefit of our people.
“These are very hard questions. I would dare to tread on grounds that angels feared to tread on, in this summit. The hard questions must be asked. Answers must be preferred, actions must be taken because if we don’t, then, this will be another talk shop. We would have gathered key players in this industry from the length and breath of the country for nothing.
“The time has come that someone should step out there and take the decision to make it work. I dare say, by the grace of God, by the mandate of Akwa Ibom people, I will take that decision,” he assured.
Eno said the electricity summit, though it was a great promise to the state, should not be another talk shop, but should chart a roadmap and be seen as a call for action with great timelines on “who should do what”, “when will such action be completed”, “what are clear expectations outlined”, “how did our brother states and our sister states achieve power 2/47.
“It is only then that we can successfully tell ourselves that we are ready to move forward on our journey to achieving electricity for all”, he added.
Eno noted that the State’s vision for total electricity access is anchored on a simple principle that electricity must not be seen as a luxury but as a fundamental enabler of modern life.
“Our vision for Akwa Ibom for total electricity access is anchored on a simple principle. Electricity must not be seen as a luxury. It is the fundamental enabler of modern life. When the rural health clinic have steady power, lives are saved. When our farmers can process and store their produce, incomes rise. When our artisans have reliable energy, productivity soars. When our children can study under good lighting, the future becomes even brighter, both literally and figuratively.
“Electricity is the basic and most important resource to give our people opportunities to live longer and live better. Accordingly, the collective aspiration of state governors to attain energy security in their territories, is one that must be deliberately planned, and purposefully executed.
“Under our electricity policy, 2024, and the electricity law, 2025, we now have the legal, regulatory and policy foundation to establish the Akwa Ibom State electricity market”, he stated.
He sued for a collective aspiration by state Governors to convene energy and security summit that are deliberately planned and purposefully executed, saying that under the State’s Electricity Policy 2024 and Electricity Law 2025, legal regulatory and policy foundations have been established to regulate the State electricity market.
Eno called for quality collaboration between the federal government and States as envisaged in the electricity Act, promising that the State’s electricity reforms would be attained within the context of Nigeria’s reforming, reshaping, and re-designing electricity supply industry.
In her welcome remarks, the deputy governor, and chairman, summit organizing committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, noted that the maiden summit is devoted to charting course of a sub- national electricity market and convened at a defined moment with the passage of the Electricity Act 2023, and the 5th constitutional alterations.
Eyakenyi said Nigeria has empowered states to take charge of their electricity destiny, with Akwa Ibom State ceasing the opportunity, recalling that the State House of Assembly has passed the State Electricity bill, while the Governor had assented to the Electricity Law, 2025.
According to her, the instrument currently provides the formation for the state to establish its electricity market designed to serve the needs of the people, attract private investments, and ensure that every household and enterprise access reliable power.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the chairman, House Committee on Power, Mr Victor Nwokolo, lauded Eno and his team for the forthrightness, courage and visionary insight which he noted, was an indication that the State has positioned itself as a model for other sub-nationals.
Governors of Enugu, Abia, Cross River and Bayelsa States, who were represented by their commissioners in the power sector, as well as the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Air Vice Marshall E. E. Effiong, congratulated the governor for his development strides and the commitment to transforming the power sector.
They assured of collaboration and support where necessary to ensure success of the State’s vision.
Speaking on behalf of stakeholders in the State, Senator Ekong Sampson, expressed delight on the manner the governor was driving transformation in the State, and assured that members of the National Assembly will completely align with the Governor’s vision to reposition the sector.
In a keynote address, the team leader, Power, United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility, Eyo O. Ekpo, enumerated five strategic priorities that must be addressed by any credible State electricity reforms including; Operationalise AKSERC, bringing together the elements of the State electricity value chain in a mutually-supporting commercial framework that is focused on serving the State first and foremost, and focus on the off-grid market too, among others.
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