Akwa Ibom State Government says it has commenced the process of granting concession to the Ibom Power Plant along with the establishment of the state Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The Commissioner for Energy, Iniobong Robson, who disclosed this at the weekend in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, said the development was part of efforts to improve power supply across the state.
He also said that the development followed the signing by President Bola Tinubu of the amended Electricity Act, which empowered states to generate, distribute and regulate electricity within their jurisdiction.
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According to him, the amended version of the Electricity Act 2023 now empowers states to take charge of both generation and distribution of electricity, adding that the state government is taking advantage of the new legal framework to exercise greater control over its power sector and address persistent power challenges.
He said that in the shortest possible time the state government will constitute a seven-member Electricity Regulatory Commission, which will include five commissioners and two chief officers.
The Commissioner also informed that the members of the Commission will be selected on the basis of professional competence, technical expertise and integrity to ensure effective regulation of the power market of the state.
The commissioner said the state is strategically positioned to reform the power sector, citing its vast gas reserves and the existing Ibom power plant as important assets.
“The state-owned power plant will be revived through concession to a technically and financially capable operator to enhance efficiency and increase generation capacity. The goal is to ensure full commercial operations and improve service delivery to residents,” he said.
He said that within six months of the establishment of the commission, the regulatory oversight of electricity distribution within the state will start being transferred from the federal regulator to the state authority.
According to him, this is in accordance with the provisions of the amended law.
He pointed out that although transmission of electricity would remain under federal control, the state could generate surplus power for export to other states through the national grid.
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However, he acknowledged residents' complaints over poor power supply in some parts of the state, and assured that the reforms were designed to address infrastructure deficiencies and improve service delivery.
He also said that the state government has developed a 10-year roadmap for the power sector, which includes infrastructure upgradation, technical review and stakeholder participation.
Robson expressed hope that the reforms would put Akwa Ibom in a position to achieve stable and reliable power supply in the long term.
