The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ibom Power Company, Meyen Etukudo, has explained that the ongoing power outage in Akwa Ibom State is due to a lack of gas supply and the disconnection of the Aba-Itu transmission line. The state has been experiencing a power outage for more than ten days, severely impacting small-scale businesses.
Speaking to journalists in Uyo on Thursday, Etukudo detailed the causes of the outage, stating that Savannah Energy, the gas supplier to Ibom Power, is currently conducting maintenance on its gas pipeline. This maintenance has halted gas supply to the Ibom Power plant, rendering it non-operational.
Etukudo further explained that in the absence of gas supply, Akwa Ibom relies on power from the national grid, which is transmitted through the Aba-Itu transmission line. However, this line is old and prone to snapping, leading to disconnections that have contributed to the ongoing power outage.
"The gas supplier to Ibom Power, Savannah Energy, is conducting maintenance on its gas pipeline, so it cannot supply gas to Ibom Power. Since there’s no gas, the Ibom power plant is currently down until the gas is restored. When Ibom power is down, Akwa Ibom receives power from the national grid only through the Aba–Itu transmission line. That line is old, so in the process of transmitting power from the national grid into the state, it snapped," Etukudo explained.
He assured residents that efforts are being made to restore power, with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) working on the transmission line. Meanwhile, Ibom Power is waiting for Savannah Energy to complete its maintenance and restore gas supply, while the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) is prepared to distribute power once supply is resumed.
Etukudo also recommended the reconductoring of the old Aba-Itu transmission line, which is currently the only source of power from the national grid to Akwa Ibom State. He emphasized the complex nature of Nigeria’s power sector, noting that various companies are responsible for different roles within the power value chain, and one company cannot undertake the work of another without violating its operating license.
He clarified, "Ibom Power is licensed to only generate electricity. TCN transmits the power to distribution companies like Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution PLC (PHEDC), which then distributes power to customers. That’s why it’s the name of PHEDC that’s on the electricity bill, not Ibom Power. So, Ibom Power cannot repair transmission lines for TCN because transmission lines belong to TCN."
The situation has caused significant disruption across the state, but with ongoing repairs and the expected resumption of gas supply, there is hope that normal power supply will be restored soon.
