THE excitement that greeted the activation of the 191MW Independent Power Plant in Akwa Ibom State was understandable. The joy of experiencing a 24-hour power supply in some parts of the state can only be compared to what indigenes felt when the first aircraft landed in the state‘s new international airport. For a people that barely enjoyed electricity for less than 40 minutes daily before then, the turning on of the massive power generating changed many things.

It can never be gainsaid that electricity is central to industrial and technological development. This component of national growth is almost absent in Nigeria and this explains why all the sectors are stunted or dead. To tackle the problem of inadequate power supply, the Federal Government made moves to step up the level of power generated in the country. Such moves, were, however, frustrated by insincerity on the path of those handling this onerous task.

It is based on these unsure steps and faltering moves by the FG to provide electricity for the masses that some states decided to take the bull by the horns and generate their own power. There is no doubting the fact that such project is capital intensive, but the gains that could be savoured from it outweighs whatever cost or inconvenience any government will suffer to put it up.

Bearing in mind that any society that gropes in darkness cannot grow, the Akwa Ibom State Government took a decision in 2001 to build its own power plant. Though the project was to be completed by 2005, the apparent bureaucratic bottleneck that was affecting government at the centre found its way in the then administration. Before the end of that administration in 2007, the people of the state were made to understand that the power project was complete.

Even the immediate past president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was at Ikot Abasi to inaugurate and switch on the plant. But the people of the state, who were longing for a steady power supply, became disappointed when they could not get regular power supply from the IPP. Many alibis were given as to why the people could not get what they were promised and this boiled down to the fact that more than 30 per cent of the project was yet to be completed.

But with the advent of the Akpabio administration about two-and-a-half years ago, more enthusiasm was displayed in dealing with the task of providing regular power supply for the benefit of the people of the state. The result was the switching of the power plant on Dec. 14, 2009. Before then, many artisans faced tough times trying to make profit from their ventures as a result of ceaseless power failure. But the current turn-around of event has put a big smile on their faces.

From Ikot Abasi to Eket, Esit Eket and other environs, electricity supply has been uninterrupted because of the switching on of the new power station in Ikot Abasi. A resident of Eket, Mr. Benjamin Etukudo, said the major parts of Eket had been enjoying constant power supply since Dec. 14, 2009, a development, which he pointed out, had never been experienced for over three decades.

Etukudo, however, observed that some parts of Eket were still without supply as a result of weak and substandard cables, which could not carry the high voltage of electricity from the main station in Ikot Abasi.

”We are enjoying steady power supply in Eket. A few areas in Eket could not get electricity because of the high voltage of power coming from Ikot Abasi. Again, the problem could be traced to the deplorable state of cables and transformers in the affected areas,” Etukudo stated while calling on the PHCN to replace the old and outdated transformers in areas that are yet to receive power supply.

In Ikot Abasi, a welder, who identified himself as David Ekpo, said he could now plan to make profit in his chosen business. According to him, before the current improvement in electricity supply, it was difficult for him to make ends meet.

He said customers usually left his workshop with disappointment because of their unfinished work. ”This is due to the absence of electricity. Sometimes, we do not have electricity for two weeks and when this is the case, some of us who are artisans cannot feed our families well,” Ekpo stated.

In Uyo, residents are still waiting for when electricity will be distributed to the state capital and its surroundings from the main station. The contractors that handled the project have promised that the distribution of electricity will go round the entire state.

On the impact the multimillion dollar project will have on the people of Akwa Ibom, the Special Adviser on Technical Matter to the Governor, Mr. Etido Inyang, described the project as one that would boost the industrial revolution the current administration was embarking on.

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