The federal government has praised Akwa Ibom State over her industrialisation drive as a means towards the improvement of the state economy and the country in general.
The commendation was made by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who was in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, for a Power Summit holding in the state.
Fashola was on a courtesy visit to Governor Udom Emmanuel when he made the commendation.
His words: “Let me on behalf of the federal government also thank you and the government and people of Akwa Ibom State for your untiring effort towards helping to improve the economy of the state and by extension the country with industries that you have committed to, one of which the vice president commissioned recently.”
According to him, that was the way to grow the economy and create prosperity and opportunity for the people.
“We on our part, on behalf of the president and the federal government will continue to give support to your state and other states by providing infrastructure in terms of power, roads and housing within the remit of my ministry,” he said.
Fashola who also commended Governor Emmanuel for providing land for the on-going National Housing Pilot Project which he earlier visited, said he was impressed with the calibre of people working on the site.
He appealed for the construction of access road to the location of the project.
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While announcing that the recently damaged substation transformer at Afaha Ube, Itam in Uyo metropolis would be replaced with the 180MvA capacity from 120MVA , the minister explained that the Transmission company of Nigeria, TCN, was working hard to help improve transmission between Ikot Ekpene and Odukpani axis.
In his response, Governor Udom Emmanuel said his administration’s investments in the power sector development were indicative of his zeal to enhance electricity development in the state.
He disclosed that his administration had so far completed an injection power station along Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, and had just completed a substation at the airport which had hitherto been run on 24 hours of generating plant.
He revealed that several major institutions in the state such as the Airport, Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene and Ibom Specialist Hospital had no link to public power supply, saying he was actively trying to get those places connected.
According to him, “I know today, when you are talking about power and the efforts of the state governments in this country, I think we will rank Number 1.”
He added that the state needed two more substations in Uyo to actually tackle the power problem in the city.
Emmanuel said though the state-owned Ibom Power Plant was generating over 115 megawatts daily, he lamented that the power of evacuation resided with the distribution company.
