The Akwa Ibom State Government has projected that residents will enjoy stable and reliable electricity supply within the next 18 months as it intensifies reforms aimed at transforming the state’s power sector.
Governor Umo Eno said the target would be achieved through sustained reforms, stronger institutions and increased private sector participation in the state’s electricity market.
Eno disclosed this on Friday during the July edition of the State Projects Delivery Meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Uyo, where he reviewed the progress of key projects being executed by his administration.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said the meeting featured a presentation by the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Arit Uya, who outlined the roadmap for developing a functional state electricity market.
The governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources, revealing that the state’s in-house quantity surveying mechanism had saved more than ₦200 billion in project costs.
According to him, the savings have been redirected to other critical development projects across the state.
Eno also cautioned against the spread of misinformation about government projects, explaining that the State Projects Delivery Meeting was designed to give journalists, civil society organisations and other stakeholders the opportunity to independently assess ongoing projects and monitor government spending.
The governor highlighted major achievements of his administration, including the unveiling of the 350-bed Ibom International Hospital, the commencement of twice-weekly Ibom Air flights to Accra, Ghana, rehabilitation of Oron maritime infrastructure, progress towards the Ibom Deep Seaport and upgrades in the state’s aviation sector.
He said the administration was executing 1,305 kilometres of roads and 40 bridges across the state, adding that total payments on road projects, including inherited ones, stood at N743.3bn.
Eno further disclosed that the state recently received a $6m performance-based reward under the World Bank-supported State Action on Business Enabling Reforms programme for excellence in transparency, budget management and good governance, as well as an additional $3m under the Nigeria for Women Project to support rural women.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of several strategic projects, including the Oron Maritime Project, Ibom International Convention Centre, Ibom Hotels, Ewet Luxury Estate, Youth Development Centres across the 31 local government areas, model schools, primary healthcare centres and other infrastructure expected to be commissioned later this year.
The governor also inspected one of the 20 compressed natural gas buses already delivered for the state’s planned mass transit scheme and directed security agencies, local government officials and community leaders to curb the theft of perimeter fencing materials at airport project sites.