By Diana Bassey &Bassey Bassey
Uyo – Gov. Udom Emmanuel Akwa Ibom says that the state Independent Power Plant (IPP) is generating more than 150 megawatts of electricity in the country.
Emmanuel made the disclosure at a media interaction to mark the 29th anniversary of the creation of the state.
He said that some communities in the state were now enjoying electricity for 18 to 20 hours daily.
“I am the only governor in Nigeria who generates more than 150 megawatts of electricity.
“And you can check; there are some communities where the rate of vandalism is low; they enjoy electricity on the average of 18 hours to 20 hours daily.”
He, however, decried the high rate of vandalism of electricity installations in the state.
Emmanuel said that the state government had deployed more than 600 transformers to alleviate the suffering of the people in areas where electricity installation had been vandalised.
He also noted with concern that some hoodlums siphoned oil from transformers in the communities, causing power outage.
“As we are fixing those transformers; people are trying to drain the oil. Once it reaches two to three days, the transformer will get burnt again.’’
The governor urged the people to protect electricity installations in their communities against vandals.
He, however, expressed regret that electricity transmission was still the exclusive preserve of the Federal Government.
“If we evacuate the 150 megawatts that we generate in the state today, we could have solved so much of our problems if not all.”
He said that the state government was building a second power turbine to supply five local government areas along coastal areas with electricity.
“We have started the second turbine of Ibom Power Plant that will give us 24 hours every day.
“So, we can start generating economic activities in the area and lots of employment opportunities.”
He further said that state government was planning to build two sub-stations in Uyo in order to improve electricity in the state capital.
The governor said that the electric metering factory in Onna Local Government Area of the state would begin production in January 2017.
According to him, the metering factory is one of the many industries expected to yield benefits from the series of projects under his stewardship so far.