December 18, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom Government has admitted her Indebtedness to Acugas to the tune of N40 billion (Forty billion Naira) for the supply of gas to the state-owned Ibom Power Company since it commenced commercial operations in December 2009 to date.
Mr Camillus Umoh, the state Commissioner for Power and Petroleum Development, disclosed this during the Akwa Ibom State Government Ministerial Briefing/End of the year review in Uyo on Tuesday.
“We have accumulated debt from the power sector. We owe an outstanding debt of N40 billion to our gas supplier, Acugas since December 2009, till date.
“I think we have a problem with our power sector, we want to declare a state of emergency on power in the state”, he stated.
The commissioner also disclosed the plans by the ministry to organise a Power Submit to think out the way forward for the sector in 2025, adding that the state-owned power company has the capacity to generate 24-hour power supply for the state.
“We should be able to come out with a Power Master Plan in order to know how to work the talk in the power sector in the state”, Umoh said
He, however, mentioned his ministry’s preparedness to complete the project in the Ibom Power Plant and give power to unserved communities in the state.
The commissioner assured that his ministry is set to complete the Etim Ekpo injection substation in the state initiated by previous administrations.
“One of the things we are doing is to complete all projects in the Power sector.
“We are taking off with the Etim Ekpo Injection substation and completing 4km of outstanding pipelines of the right of way conduction line.
“The intention is to give light to four selected areas of Ika, Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun and Oruk-Anam”.
Umoh said that the Specialist Hospital on Ikot Ekpene Road would be connected to the National Grid by 2025.
Meanwhile, our Correspondent recalls that the embattled, following a four-day power outage in the state announced in a press statement by the embattled Managing Director of Ibom Power Company, Engr Meyene Etukudoh, that the blackout was a result of the failure of Acugas, (the gas supplier), to supply gas to the plant with the claims that the state was owing it.
A few hours later, another statement emanated from the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, announcing the immediate sack of the Ibom Power boss without stating any reason.
However, it was public knowledge that Etukudoh’s predicament was not unconnected to the press statement which was seen as ridiculing the state government.
However, to validate the speculations of the people, while speaking at the banquet hall, Governor Eno said public servants have no right to issue a press statement without getting clearance from the right authority.
