- Governor Umo Eno has declared a state of emergency in Akwa Ibom’s power sector, stressing the need for reliable electricity to support the state’s economic growth under the ARISE Agenda.
- Eno announced plans for a Power Summit 2025 and a Power Infrastructure Committee to tackle the sector’s challenges while criticising the Ibom Power Plant’s former MD for mismanagement and public blame on the gas supplier.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has declared a state of emergency in the power sector, underscoring the critical role of reliable electricity in driving the state’s economic development under his administration’s ARISE Agenda. At the EXCO Ministerial Briefing and End-of-Year Review held at the Government House in Uyo, Eno emphasised the importance of consistent power supply in achieving the state’s development objectives.
Governor Eno announced plans to hold a Power Summit between January and March 2025 to address the sector’s challenges and propose practical solutions. He revealed plans to set up a Power Infrastructure Committee to guide the state’s energy policy and initiatives as part of this initiative.
The governor expressed frustration over Akwa Ibom’s significant debt of N40 billion to Acugas, the gas supplier for the Ibom Power Plant. He criticised the plant’s former Managing Director, Engr Meyen Etukudo, who was recently dismissed for publicly blaming Acugas for the power outages. According to Eno, Etukudo’s approach was unacceptable, especially given the outstanding debt.
“Assuming we have irrational youths, that company could have been burned down by now,” Eno said, highlighting the tension that could have arisen from such public statements. He emphasised that the responsible approach would have been to engage with the gas supplier and resolve the debt issue amicably.
Eno also criticised Etukudo’s decision to leave the plant’s operations in the hands of a contractor during his leave, which he described as “unacceptable.” He likened the situation to handing over a vehicle to a mechanic and expecting it to function well without oversight. “That vehicle must develop a problem because the mechanic must eat,” Eno quipped, underscoring the risks of leaving critical operations in the hands of external parties without proper management.
Despite these challenges, the governor expressed confidence in the state’s ability to generate 24/7 power, which he sees as essential to accelerating Akwa Ibom’s economic growth. He commended the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Camillus Umoh for driving a paradigm shift in the operations of Ibom Power Company and reaffirming his commitment to resolving the sector’s issues.
Key stakeholders, including Chief Nduese Essien, Chief Sunny Udom, Rt. Hon. Peter Linus Umoh and HRM Odidem Bassey Etim Edet praised the governor for organising the stakeholders’ briefing. They commended his commitment to transparency and accountability in governance, noting that the governor’s efforts would pave the way for a more efficient and reliable power sector in Akwa Ibom.