By Aniefiok Macauley

For upward of over two months, residents of Uyo Municipal area in Akwa Ibom state have been in ecstasy over the sudden improvement in public power supply, experienced in most parts of the capital city.

The governor, Udom Emmanuel for once has been commended even by the opposition elements for this feat. From the most unlikely quarters was the commendation of the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Edet Bassey
According to him “Governor Udom Emmanuel has done very well in terms of electricity supply. We are really enjoying 15-18 hours of improved power supply in Akwa Ibom state”

This accomplishment, though may be taken for granted is a major breakthrough in the governor’s drive towards industrialization and creation of conducive business environment for small scale businesses to thrive.

Arguably, there is no nation that can truly develop without adequate power supply but unfortunately, Nigeria as a nation is still grappling with power problem after fifty-seven years of independence from the colonial rule.

In the build up to the 2015 general elections the former Lagos state governor and present Minister of Power, Works and Housing was quoted to have said that “any serious government would fix power in six months and that the only way Nigerians can get uninterrupted power supply was to vote out PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Shamefully, two years down the line, the APC led federal government has shown total lack of focus, sincerity of purpose and have been incapacitated towards giving Nigerians uninterrupted power supply.

Notwithstanding the fact that it is the responsibility of the federal government to generate, transmit and distribute power, Udom Emmanuel is thinking in advance for better tomorrow with the knowledge that provision of electric power to citizenry is no rocket science.

Emmanuel knows that for comfortable environment, lighting of homes, offices and factories is essential. He knows that we need to cool down in homes and work places to optimize output, where the weather is warm in many months of the year. In all, he knows that for his industrialization drive to be meaningful, constant supply of electricity is needed for different types of industries, where goods, appliances, and tools are produced.

There is no gainsaying the fact since assumption of office; the governor has been working assiduously to ensure there is constant power supply in the state. From providing the enablers to ensure Ibom Power Plant generates power at full capacity, he persuaded the management of PHED to supply additional megawatts to Akwa Ibom.

Without resting on his oars, he sought and obtained license for the 2nd phase of IPP with an installed capacity of about 585mw. Though previous efforts may have yielded minimal result as residents were still suffering from epileptic power because of reliance on dilapidated power substation of yesteryears, the governor initiated, constructed and commissioned a brand new 132KVA, 2/15MVA injection substation which at the moment has resulted in the interrupted power enjoyed by residents in the Uyo metropolis.

To further take power to the nooks and crannies of the state, the government is also constructing a 2/60MVA in Ekim, Mkpat Enin local Government Area which is hoped to be commissioned on September 23, by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo when Akwa Ibom will be celebrating 30 years of creation.

It is worthy to note that this new substation alone will provide constant electricity to five Local Government Areas in the industrial belt of the state. With the Ekim power station completed and commissioned, the governor intends to turn the power radar to Oron axis where another substation would be built for the entire state to run with interrupted electricity.

This singular achievement by the governor no doubt as accorded him accolades from many quarters even from the unlikely ones.

For instance, an APC Chieftain and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on NASS Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang noted “I came to Uyo two days ago and power supply to my home and environs is almosts 24 hours, I am impressed and wish it gets to the entire state, governor Udom is doing well in that direction,” he applauded.

On his part, the former Military Governor, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, rtd; sees the uninterrupted power supply in the state by Emmanuel’s government as a legacy everyone should be proud of.

In his word “providing 24 hours power supply is a worthy enterprise that will turn Akwa Ibom into a model all other states will follow. We must be grateful to this government for making this a reality. We must be grateful to the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration, it is a legacy I’m proud of.”

As Nkanga seemed to have prophesied, there are already tension in the corridors of power in some states for fear of losing companies and investors to Akwa Ibom state.

To the governor, the success recorded in the power sector is part of his blueprint in line with his campaign promises. According to him, when I was campaigning, I said these things are not rocket science, it takes dedication, sincerity of purpose to get these things done, we are just trying to test out what is in the blueprint we have.”

With sustained uninterrupted power supply in Akwa Ibom , Governor Emmanuel is taking the state to Eldorado that investors would not need to be begged to come and invest but will be the ones begging to invest.

As it is, Governor Emmanuel has shown the capacity, the seriousness, drive and character that provision of steady power supply is possible and the only way Akwa Ibom people will continue to enjoy uninterrupted power supply is for all to support the governor to return to office in 2019.

Yes, whether you accept it or not, Udom is not only right but the Light.

Macauley writes from Abuja

Source: http://www.wetinhappen.com.ng/udom-emmanuel-thinking-advance-better-tomorrow/

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