Gentlemen of the Press, it is a universal concept that the main responsibility of Government is to meet the welfare needs of her citizens. To achieve this, responsible leaders find creative ways of using policies, programmes and projects to cater to the varying needs of her diverse citizenry. These needs are divided into long, medium and short terms and government strives to satisfy them.

This administration piloted by Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel at its inception, promised to attract industries and manufacturing concerns to the state. The administration realizing that industrialization was impossible without power supply, chased both goals with equal vigour. This chase birthed the 33KV injection sub station at Nwaniba, which helped step up our power supply to citizens. As a result, electric power became available up to 20 hours each day in some parts of the state, and the electricity in the metropolis was nicknamed ‘#IkangUdom’. Flowing from this huge success, our leader and Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was encouraged to make other strategic investments in the power sector. These included the 132 X 33KV, 2x60 MVA transmission substation at Ekim, in addition to the upgrade and optimization of the 132 X 33KV, 3x60 MVA transmission station at Afaha Ube Itam in Uyo metropolis, 33/11KV, 2x15 MVA injection substation at Edet Akpan Ave (aka 4 Lanes), Uyo, and the replacement of damaged and unserviceable transformers, and other power equipment and accessories all over the state. In recognition of the huge investments in this sector, the state was nicknamed ‘The Power State’ by both the Vice President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and the then Minister of Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN. They both unreservedly commended the Governor for his foresight in investing so massively in the power sector. To directionally condense these efforts, the Governor created a Ministry of Power and Petroleum Development to drive the mission and vision of government as they pertain to power on one hand, and of course petroleum on the other.

Not known for resting on his laurels, the Governor gave himself not just a laudable ‘Power for All’ themed goal, but an audacious rollout target date of December 2021. This program and its target had three key foundations, namely:
1. Connection of villages to the national grid,
2. Metering solutions, which involved the provision of prepaid meters, and
3. Network optimization.
These foundations were to serve as catalysts to birth the power revolution, with the potential of providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, and lifting many from poverty. We have as an administration worked tirelessly to achieve the goals under each segment.

For clarity, permit me to highlight these foundations individually.

CONNECTION OF VILLAGES TO THE NATIONAL GRID
At the last count, we have attained 94 % in the connection of the 2,274 gazetted villages to the national grid, and believe that we have performed remarkably well in this regards. This feat was attained through the diligence and committed support of our dear Governor, who took particular interest in the power sector. The remaining communities yet to be connected will soon be connected, so they can join the league of communities with public power. To complement this, we tapped into the World Bank/REA Nigeria Electrification Program and investment in renewable energy, and over 25 communities have been earmarked across the state for solar powered mini-grid. Work has already started in Ini local government to build a mini grid that will supply solar powered electricity to the communities there.

METERING SOLUTIONS
The Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration has achieved applaudable success in providing prepaid meters for installation in key residential clusters. Under the pilot scheme, the Akwa Ibom State Government had earmarked 32,000 units of prepaid meters for installation in homes and businesses, commencing in the metropolitan area of the state. So far, 12,000 units have been distributed and installed. We are also expecting additional units of meters from the Federal Government through the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) due to the goodwill and the good relationship our Governor and his lieutenants have maintained with the Government at the center. However, these meters will be provided through PHEDC.

NETWORK OPTIMIZATION:
The efforts of the present administration to optimize the current power network have been geared towards the continuous servicing, repairs, maintenance, and installation of major injection substations, distribution transformers, armored cables, feeder pillars, electric poles, and other capital-intensive power-related infrastructure. The Ministry of Power and Petroleum Development, under Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration, constantly receives complaints about failed or damaged power systems. In response, the ministry, with the support of the Governor, intervenes through repairs and replacements of power equipment and accessories, as the need arises.
To give a little more detail, the AKSG has:
a.) approved, released and installed over 470 Distribution Transformers all over the 31 LGAs,
b.) constructed over 100km of both 33KV HT networks and 11KV HT networks all over the State,
c.) completed the installations of hundreds of Feeder Pillars, and rehabilitation of over 300 distribution transformer substations.

Our investments in the key power infrastructures like the Ekim Power Station, the Nwaniba Substation and our master stroke feat in the running of dedicated lines to service key institutions like the Ibom Icon Hotel, The Victor Attah International Airport, Ibom Specialist Hospital, and the Dakkada Luxury Estate among others, have become a model to many states and seriously reduced the frustration these institutions experienced as a result of epileptic power supply.

LOOKING AHEAD
A lot of efforts have been made towards linking rural communities to the national grid. To complement these efforts, we’re deploying solar energy for several communities to benefit from the National Solar Programme. We will continue to advocate for more meters to be made available for both private and commercial customers. These undoubtedly will inch us closer to our target of making affordable power available for all citizens of Akwa Ibom State.

Conversely, to whom much is given, much is expected. The citizens also owe themselves the responsibility of protecting the power infrastructure in the vicinity of where they live and where they work. They must ensure prompt payment of consumption charges and meter their subscription, to avoid estimated billing.

Despite all our efforts, the legal structure of our country allocates some critical parts of the power sector outside the reach of the State Government. For example, in our state, no matter what level of investment the State Government makes, PHEDC is critical to the attainment of our power goal. The government has and will continue to engage PHEDC in a bid to push for more power off take and distribution to our people. We are hopeful that in the days ahead, PHEDC will see eye to eye with our state government on the need to increase supply of power to our citizens, while providing good customer service. Be rest assured that while the AKSG is engaging the distribution company PHEDC, we’re also exploring other means of ensuring that our state can have uninterrupted power.

Notably, the desire of Governor Udom Emmanuel is that power should reach the nooks and crannies of the state, and that the source of power should be dependable and constant, so as to cause a drastic reduction in the running cost for businesses and enhance the living standards of our citizens. The essence of this press briefing is to assure you that despite almost achieving our target under the ‘power for all program, we will continue to vigorously pursue the goal of providing dependable power for all.

Gentlemen, I thank you for your time and attention, and hope that you will continue to be our partners.

Text of Press Statement for POWER FOR ALL PROGRAM; OUR JOURNEY SO FAR
By Dr. John J. Etim
Hon. Commissioner for Power & Petroleum Development, Akwa Ibom State, held on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at the Conference Room of Ministry of Power & Petroleum Development, Uyo.