AKSG Charts Roadmap For Constant Power Supply

… Constitutes 7-Man Implementation Committee 
By Bassey Nkponam 
UYO 
As a follow up on discussions at the Power Summit that took place last year at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom government has taken fresh steps to address lingering electricity challenges in the state.
In this direction, the state government has convened a joint meeting of the State Executive Council and chairmen of all 31 local government areas during which they reviewed ongoing power sector reforms and outlined practical steps towards establishing electricity marketing and ownership to ensure stable and reliable power supply for residents in Akwa Ibom.
The review meeting, which took place at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, on Friday, resulted in the setting up of a committee made up of State Executive Council members and local government chairmen to harmonise proposals, develop a clear pathway for achieving steady electricity supply, and submit its report within two weeks.
At the occasion, the State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the state’s power sector, as Akwa Ibom was firmly on course in implementing the roadmap developed during the September 2025 Power Summit.
Eno stressed that achieving stable, accessible, and sustainable electricity requires a deliberate and well-coordinated process, noting that the government has already taken bold and strategic steps that will begin to yield tangible results, urging stakeholders to remain patient and supportive.
He commended the local government council chairmen for their collaboration, describing the synergy between the state and local governments as crucial to the success of the Akwa Ibom development agenda.
The commissioner for Information, Dr Aniekan Umanah, in a post-meeting press briefing, said the meeting focused on assessing the power sector reforms and examining timelines for Akwa Ibom to take full ownership of its electricity market. 
Umanah explained that experts and technical consultants made presentations, including options on solar and clean energy solutions, and that the meeting produced a roadmap and implementation timelines aimed at realising Governor Umo Eno’s vision of a state-controlled electricity market that will guarantee power availability for businesses and households.
He clarified that the state was not considering selling the Ibom Power Company but was rather exploring a concession framework that would retain government control while leveraging private sector investment, expertise and efficiency.
The commissioner made known that the State Electricity Regulatory Commission has been established, and that the names of commissioner nominees will soon be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation.
The commissioner for power, Mr Iniobong Robinson, described the meeting as the beginning of a new era in the state’s power sector. 
Robson noted that recent reforms currently allow states to generate, distribute and manage electricity independently, urging residents to remain patient as the process unfolds.
The chairman of ALGON in Akwa Ibom, Dr Uwemedimo Udo, described poor electricity supply as a common challenge affecting economic growth, and lauded the governor’s initiative, while also pledging continued collaboration by local governments to support reforms and protect critical infrastructure.
The State’s consultant on power, Mr. Eyo Ekpo, explained that the 2023 Electricity Act decentralised power generation and distribution, making state-level electricity markets possible.
Ekpo attributed Akwa Ibom’s strong potential for sustainable power supply to its gas resources, power plants, transmission assets, and existing distribution structure currently operated by Port Harcourt Distribution Company, which is expected to transit into a state-controlled entity.
According to him, electricity is locally achievable when generation, distribution, funding and bill payment are properly managed, and that public cooperation will be key to sustaining constant power supply.
The consultant highlighted Akwa Ibom’s unique standing in Nigeria’s electricity sector, noting that the State has been one of the only two states that has developed a grid-connected power generation plant since 1999 and the only one that has retained ownership of its 191megawatt Ibom Power Company (IPC).
Ekpo explained that the reform process has been deliberate, structured and legally grounded, guided by the principle of “policy first, law second, and discipline in execution always”.
He said the Ibom Electricity Holding Limited (IEHL) has been officially incorporated with the main purpose of serving as the holding company for Akwa Ibom’s electricity assets, including Ibom Power, PHED to ensure proper management of the State’s shares and investments in the power sector.
Ekpo outlined plans for temporary off-grid solutions powered by solar energy for the unserved households as part of efforts to expand electricity access, particularly in rural areas.
High point of the meeting was the constitution of a seven-man committee led by the executive assistant and chief delivery advisor to the governor, Mr Aniefiok Johnson, with the commissioner for power, Mr Iniobong Robson; commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong; chairman of ALGON in Akwa Ibom, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo; chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council, Elder Aniefiok Nkom; and chairman of Ibeno Local Government Council, Mrs. Glory Ekah Effiong, as members.