GOVERNOR’S AIDE INTERVENES FOR POWER TO BE RESTORED IN IKOT EKPENE AFTER TWO MONTHS OF OUTAGE
Residents of Ikot Ekpene L.G.A. can now heave a sigh of relieve as electricity has been restored to the Raffia City after two months of total blackout. The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Power, Dr. Victor Udo, made this known after his Office's intervention on the situation. “When customers and major stakeholders in the State call to complain, you have to act with urgency”.
“Members of the community should not wait for two months to let us know about prolonged power outages. It is bad enough that power is being rationed and the limited supply from the national grid is rotated among communities. But the entire Ikot Ekpene town should not have zero grid power supply for a whole week not to mention a month and two months without intervention”
Dr. Udo directed the Deputy Director, Engineering in his Office, Engr. Anietie Orok and a Senior Engineer, Itoro Udosen, to visit the Transmission Substation at Afaha Ube Itam and investigate the root cause of the power situation in Ikot Ekpene to make sure it is resolved within the shortest possible time. The quick intervention in collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Ikot Ekpene Business Unit of PHEDC brought succor to the residents of Ikot Ekpene.
He, however, noted that the prolonged power outage in Ikot Ekpene was caused by the faulty circuit breaker at Afaha Ube Transmission Substation and earth faults along Uyo – Ikot Ekpene road. The SSA stated that while breakdown is part and parcel of any system, it should not take TCN and PHEDC so long to resolve the problem.
Dr Udo said his Office will continue to work hard with Substation Managers and other stakeholders to ensure better service delivery across the State. He also called on the good people of Ikot Ekpene and the State as a whole to continue to be patient as the Governor is committed to making Akwa Ibom the first state (Akpa Obio) in Nigeria with uninterrupted power supply.
The Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council, Obonganwan Gloria I. Useh, in her reaction expressed appreciation to the State Government for stepping into the situation through the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on power, to restore normal power supply to Ikot Ekpene. She stated '' it is a big relief for me and the inhabitants of Ikot Ekpene and I'm grateful to the State Government for the timely intervention''.
Nse-Abasi Anwana, Esq
Information Officer