Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Akwa Ibom State Government has unveiled plans to revive underperforming electricity infrastructure, casting doubt on persistent claims that gas shortages are solely responsible for poor power generation across the country.
The State Commissioner for Power, Iniobong Robson, disclosed this while outlining efforts to optimise electricity assets within the state, noting that many so-called “dead” power lines may simply be operating below capacity due to poor maintenance rather than lack of gas supply.
“There are big plans to revamp every dead electricity lines within our jurisdiction. Sometimes, these lines aren’t dead, but not functioning optimally,” he said.
Robson questioned the long-standing narrative around gas constraints in Nigeria’s power sector, arguing that the country has yet to fully test the performance of its infrastructure under conditions of adequate gas supply.
“They claim it was because of insufficient supply of gas. That I wouldn’t know because we’ve never heard of a situation where we have sufficient gas to see if it could still produce,” he added.
Drawing an analogy, the commissioner likened Nigeria’s power infrastructure to poorly maintained engines that lose efficiency over time.
“It’s like you having vehicle engines, if they don’t maintain them well, the capacity of the engines drops. So, when you apply force or the throttle, it drags. This means the engine has reduced in capacity,” he explained.
His comments come amid ongoing concerns over Nigeria’s electricity generation shortfalls, with stakeholders frequently citing gas supply constraints, ageing infrastructure, and weak maintenance culture as key challenges affecting the sector.
The planned intervention by the Akwa Ibom State Government could improve power reliability at the subnational level if effectively implemented, while also contributing to broader national efforts to stabilise electricity supply.
The renewed focus on infrastructure optimisation highlights a growing shift among state actors to take more proactive roles in addressing power sector inefficiencies, particularly as Nigeria continues to grapple with energy security challenges and rising demand.
