- The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved an independent power distribution network licence known as Ibom Utility Company for Akwa Ibom to distribute electricity in selected locations in the state.
- This approval allows Akwa Ibom to manage its power resources and distribute them effectively independently.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved an independent power distribution network licence known as Ibom Utility Company for Akwa Ibom to distribute electricity in selected locations in the state. The announcement was made in Abuja after the approval presentation ceremony by NERC. The Secretary to State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem, Commissioner for Power, John James and aide to the Governor on Power, and the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Mayen Etukudo, were the Akwa Ibom State Government delegation. The Commission similarly approved the application for an amendment of the on-grid electricity generating licence to enable Ibom Power Company Ltd to embed into the distribution network of Ibom Utility Company Limited.
According to a statement by an aide to the Governor on media, Aniekeme Finbarr and made available to BusinessDay, this development is a big win for Akwa Ibom State as Governor Udom Emmanuel at several fora had lamented the absence of steady power supply said to have been caused by poor distribution despite massive investment by the state government in the power sector. The Governor hit the ground running when he was barely eighteen months in office and inaugurated a newly built 33/11KV, 2 X 15MVA injection sub-station in Uyo, the state capital. After that, the Governor built a similar 33/11KV, 2 X 15MVA substation to provide a dedicated grid power supply to the state-owned Victor Attah International Airport with a dedicated 33kv line from Ibom Tropicana. In addition, when the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) energised 132/33KV electricity transformers in Calabar and Lagos, Governor Emmanuel collaborated with TCN to commission a 132/33KV, 1 x 60MVA transformer at Afaha Ube in Uyo. This 60MVA transformer increased the state’s available power for distribution from 96 megawatts to 144 megawatts.
According to the Governor’s aide on power, Meyen Etukudo, the upgraded substation provides steady power to ten local government areas in the state, including Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Obot Akara, Ini, Ikono, Ibiono, Etinan, Abak and Ukanafun. TCN, the sole electricity transporter and the link between generation companies and distribution companies in Nigeria, lauded the Governor for the partnership, which they said aligned with the incremental power policy of the Federal Government (FG).
Udom Emmanuel, again, collaborated with TCN and agreed to build a 132/33KV, 2 x 60MVA transmission substation at Ekim in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area. The last time a transmission substation was constructed in Akwa Ibom state was twenty years ago. It also provides steady power supply to Akwa Ibom State University and five local government areas, including Onna, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obolo and Orukanam. In addition, Akwa Ibom State Government has secured a 30MVA transformer for the proposed construction of the Ikot Abasi substation. This approval allows Akwa Ibom to manage its power resources and distribute them effectively independently.