…as AKHA holds public hearing on public utilities
By Emmanuel Sampson
The Member Representing the interest of Ikono at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Asuquo Nana who doubles as Chairman House Committee on Rural Development, Power, Water, and Public Utilities has said that Akwa Ibom will soon become key players in the business of power generation, transmission, and distribution in no distance time.
Hon. Nana gave the assurance at a one day public hearing in the assembly complex on Monday, September 9th on a bill titled:”A bill for a law to make provision for Electricity Generation, Transmission and Distribution within and for the Residents of Akwa Ibom State: To Establish Akwa Ibom Electricity Regulatory Board and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.”
In his opening remarks, the two term lawmaker, said the bill when signed into law as an Act, will give Akwa-Ibom State Government the constitutional and legal rights to set up a State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) that would regulate the electricity sector within the State.
He explained that it would also promote the adoption of clean and modern technology for the provision and delivery of electricity as it has been the backbone for economic growth, social development, as well as improved in the living conditions of people.
“This Bill seeks to promote policy and regulatory measures to ensure the expansion of efficient power generation and transmission towards the development of a competitive electricity market; also stimulate policy that will attract investments across the State Electricity value chain to re-energize economic growth, drive job-creation and also improve the living conditions of residents of Akwa Ibom State.”
“In addition, the Committee on Rural Development is thankful to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno for ensuring a cordial working relationship between the State executive and legislative, also for his unwavering support to Akwa Ibom State.”
“This Bill is another milestone in the infrastructural development effort of His Excellency and to meet the short, medium, and long-term goals of the ARISE Agenda of the present administration in the State.”
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong said during the public hearing that the bill, when passe into law, would improve the electricity situation in the state as its seeks to facilitate the delivery of affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern public electricity access to consumers in Akwa-Ibom.
Hon. Otong, who was represented by the deputy speaker, Rt. Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem said the Assembly was being proactive with the bill. According to him, electricity is the foundation for industrialization. “Electricity is indeed a socio-economic game changer any day! It is the key to urbanization as it can turn our villages into cities and micro industrial hubs. There can be no nightlife without it, and even criminality will be minimized as our teaming youths will engage in various ventures. Our economic potentials are maximized when we can explore the opportunities afforded by stable and affordable electric power supply. What we do with electricity, therefore, determines our ultimate developmental trajectory as a people. This meeting is, to that extent, very critical to the economic well-being and sustainability of our state and people. I urge that, as usual, we should give our utmost to this assignment, such that at the end, we will again prove ourselves as patriots and stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom dream of a must-come destination.”
He maintained that the bill would also empower the state to license, own, operate and manage transmission and distribution infrastructure within the state and its boundaries and set wholesale and retail electricity tariffs for the state licensed entities operating within the electricity market.
In his presentation, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Akwa-Ibom State, Comrade Sunny James, said Akwa-Ibom cannot be productive if there is no light, which he said is a critical component for development. He commended Asuquo Nana Udo led committee for their insight in coming up with the bill while appealing to concern stakeholders in the power sector to do their best in raising the bar of power generation.
In their separate presentation, Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr. Mmenyene Etokudo, representative of Partner details solicitors, Lagos, Akwa Ibom Electricity Consumers protection, Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for power, Engr. Camillus Umoh and others called on stakeholders in the power sector to workout modality to improve energy efficiency in the state, employed permanent and expertise in the sector as they are ready to give their inputs to come up with a law that will stand the test of time for Akwa-Ibom people.
The high-powered public hearing had in attendance all committee members, civil liberty organisation, Nigeria Society of Engineers, permanent secretary, ministry of power among other critical stakeholders.