… Targets 2034 To Achieve Quality Power For All
By Bassey Nkponam
IKOT EKPENE
As part of reforms proposed for Akwa Ibom power sector, and the avowed commitment of government to moving the electricity discourse from vision to action, the State government is to establish a State Electricity Regulatory Commission, AKSERC, and Akwa Ibom State Electrification Agency, AISEA, as it targets 2034 to achieve quality power for all.
The state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who announced government plans at the Four Points By Sheraton Hotel, in Ikot Ekpene, weekend, during the closing ceremony of the 2-day Electricity Summit, explained that while the AKSERC would provide fair tariffs, transparent licensing, and independent oversight, the AISEA would deliver electricity access to towns, villages, and underserved communities in the state.
Eno said the boards of the commission and that of the agency would be constituted in the next one month, noting that since government’s ambition was long-term, there was need to set the ball rolling by establishing AKSERC and AISEA, staffed and trained to the best possible standards.
He said the AKSERC and the AISEA would be managed by well-trained power personnel and legal experts, calling on Akwa Ibomites with requisite technical qualifications and skills to apply for employment through the ARISE employment portal, as the recruitment exercise would be transparently done, with only technically qualified personnel recruited.
The governor also made known government’s plans to rehabilitate and immediately commercialise the Ibom Power Company, IPC, raise capital and commence its urgent rehabilitation, while also taking steps to establish the Akwa Ibom Electricity Distribution Company, AIEDC, and upgrading the state distribution network that it operates.
According to Eno, government also intends to launch the Akwa Ibom Electricity Market by licensing the IPC and the new AIEDC with the state holding majority of shares.
“We will rehabilitate and immediately commercialise Ibom Power Company, raise capital and commence its urgent rehabilitation, while also taking steps to establish the Akwa Ibom Electricity Distribution Company and upgrade the State distribution network that it operates.
“We will launch the Akwa Ibom Electricity Market by licensing Ibom Power Company and the new Akwa Ibom State Electricity Distribution Company, with Akwa Ibom holding majority shares,” he said.
While reassuring citizens of his commitments towards making electricity accessible and affordable, Eno promised to roll out the first phase of the State Electrification Plan in underserved communities, publish and enforce a Consumer Bill of Rights that would ensure fair treatment for all consumers, accountability by licensees, and protection of electricity assets against vandalism and theft.
He further said that plans were on ground to pilot renewable energy projects to ensure that at least 20 per cent of power was derived from clean sources in the future.
These, he noted, were not distant promises, but immediate, measurable, and achievable at various times within the next 24 months or less.
The state chief executive officer sued for collaboration to enable successful implementation of the reforms in the state’s power sector, as success would not come from government alone, but from partnerships with the private sector, federal counterparts, development finance institutions, investors, licensees, and Akwa Ibom people.
He stated the resolve of government to work hard and purposefully to ensure that electricity availability would no longer be a barrier to growth in the state, as industries would flourish, while businesses would thrive, and homes powered.
According to him, with Akwa Ibom’s vision of building a model for electricity reform in Nigeria, government intends to commence the delivery of better service to more households and ensure that, by 2034, every household in the state has quality electricity service.
“We have listened. We have learned. And we will act. But let me stress this: success will not come from government alone. It will come from partnerships with the private sector, with our federal counterparts, with development finance institutions, with investors and licensees, and with you, the people of Akwa Ibom.
“We will work hard and purposefully to ensure that electricity availability will no longer be a barrier to growth in Akwa Ibom, that industries will flourish, businesses will thrive, and homes will be powered.
“That we will begin to deliver better service to more households and by 2034, God willing, every household in Akwa Ibom will have quality electricity service. And that we will build a model for electricity reform in Nigeria,” he said.
The governor appreciated all, particularly, representatives of the governors of Abia, Cross River, Enugu, and Bayelsa States, those of the Minister of Power, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, the State deputy governor, Dr Akon Eyakenyi, and other participants, for their participation and quality contributions at the summit.
The secretary to the State government, SSG, Prince Enobong Uwah, who spoke on the topic, “A Roadmap to Electricity Security for Akwa Ibom State,” highlighted eight pillars for driving the actionable plan, including the establishment of a transparent state electrification fund, clamping down on electricity theft and vandalism, as well as training electricity regulatory agents, among others, assuring that with the actionable plan, the entire communities in Akwa Ibom would be electrified by 2027.
Highpoint of the closing ceremony was the presentation of the State Electricity Action Plan Programme by the SSG to the deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who in turn, handed it over to Governor Eno.
The maiden Electricity Summit convened by the Akwa Ibom government ended with power experts making inputs and suggestions which, when executed, will have every home in the state lightened up.
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