Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Akwa Ibom State Government has announced plans to conduct a comprehensive audit of Ibom Power following the recent state-wide power outage experienced in the state.
The planned probe may not be unconnected to the revelation by the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr Meye Etukudo, before his sack, who disclosed that the power outage in the state was due to the unavailability of gas supply by Savannah Energy (Accugas) to the State-owned Ibom power plant.
“Regrettably, our gas supplier, Savannah Energy recently sabotaged the laudable efforts of Ibom Power by cutting off gas supply to the Ibom power plant. This loss of gas supply coincided with a reported fault on the 132kV Itu-Aba Transmission Line, which transports power from the national grid in and out of the State, hence the state-wide outage.
“While the Transmission Company of Nigeria is working to restore the 132kV transmission line to import power from the national grid into the state, the Management of Ibom Power Company has continued to engage the Management of Savannah Energy to restore gas supply to the Ibom power plant, but Savannah Energy has remained adamant claiming underpayment from Ibom power,” Etukudo said in a statement he personally signed.
But Akwa Ibom State government in a swift reaction, relieved the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Engr Meye Etukudo, of his appointment without citing any reason; while the management of Savannah Energy also issued a statement absolving themselves from the power outage in the state.
Although power has since been restored in the state, however, the recent widespread blackout across the state has raised concerns over the reliability of the state’s power infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information, Mr Ini Ememobong, in a statement said Governor Umo Eno, has given an approval for the audit of Ibom Power Company.
Ememobong emphasized that the state government will scrutinize Ibom Power’s operations and its liabilities to strategic stakeholders, including Access Bank, Savannah Energy (Accugas), and Afrexim Bank.
The statement reads, “The Ministry of Power will as a part of its oversight mandate, undertake a comprehensive audit of Ibom Power, to determine their liabilities to their strategic stakeholders like Access Bank, Savannah Energy (Accugas), Afrexim Bank, etc.
“Governor Eno remains committed to improving the state’s power infrastructure through comprehensive, sustainable solutions. The administration will continue to work with industry partners to enhance service reliability for all Akwa Ibom residents.”
