… as A’Ibom Assembly partners IPMAM to end fuel crisis
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has expressed readiness to partner the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for improved power supply in the state.
Governor Eno made this known when he received the new management team of NDPHC on a courtesy visit in his office, Government House, Uyo.
He noted that power remains a focal point in the development matrix, and especially in the actualisation of the ARISE Agenda, adding that the state has a critical power infrastructure, The Ibom Power Plant, and will like to work with a worthy partner to achieve its aim on power generation and distribution.
According to Governor Eno, “We cannot say we have fully delivered on the ARISE Agenda of this administration, if we don’t have power for our people. Of course, power in itself is a facilitator of all other things that you want to do.
“We have been looking forward to areas we can work together. That’s why we did not only ask the Ministry of Power to be here, we also brought the Managing Director of the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation( AKICORP) that can sits with your team and look at all the investment indices that we can use.”
Addressing the MD/CEO of the company, the governor, who is a member of the board of the company, said, “Power literally, is everything, and it will be good if you are ready to partner with us. I believe that we have the asset, and we can look at how to manage the asset so that all of us will benefit. That’s why I welcome this visit”.
Earlier, the MD/CEO of NDPHC, Engr Jennifer Adighije, said they were in the state to explore new market opportunities to drive commercial activities that will propel NDPHC to greater heights.
She expressed the readiness of NDPHC to partner the Ibom Power Company Limited to deliver on the electricity needs to the people, eligible customers, commercial and industrial clusters in the state, assuring the Governor not to look further in search of such partnership as NDPHC is a worthy partner to fulfill his vision of generating and distributing electricity to the people of the state.
The NDPHC boss noted that the company has the largest generating capacity in the industry which translates to providing quality, reliable and affordable electricity, guided by extant laws and regulations in line with the Federal government Renewed Hope Agenda for accelerating the collective prosperity through energy efficiency .
She applauded Governor Umo Eno for his commitment to furthering development in the State, and expressed her company’s willingness to partner with the State to handle its power needs.
On hand to receive the NDPHC executives were the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Enobong Uwah; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Dr Valerie Obot.
Others were; Commissioner for Lands, Captain Iniobong Ekong (Rtd, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga; Commissioner for Internal Security and Waterways, Gen Koko Essien (rtd.); and the Chairman, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP), Pastor Imoabasi Jacob.
In a similar note and to avert impending breakdown of law and order in the state, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has set machinery in motion to partner relevant stakeholders in the petroleum sector so as to nip in the bud the ongoing scarcity of fuel.
The House, coming under a matter of urgent public importance brought before it by the member representing Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency, Hon. Kenim Onofiok, appealed to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAM) to call off strike and reopen their stations for the sake of the public.
Hon. Kenim Onofiok informed the House that there has been recurrent crisis over the years between members of IPMAM in the state and Joint Task Force officials therefore leading to scarcity of fuel, even as she added that the association had issued a notice of withdrawal of service, where they directed their members to close their stations against the public.
“Petrol stations in Akwa Ibom are shut against the public and the price of Premium Motor Spirit… has skyrocketed to N2,000 to N2,500 in the few petrol stations that are selling and the black market dealers have capitalized on this, resulting in high cost of transportation, closing down of business and inability of workers to get to their offices.”
Hon. Onofiok cited cites like Abuja and Lagos where PMS was sold for N900 and N950 with states like Abia and Cross River, where the product was sold for between N950 and N1,100 and advocated that if the situation was allowed to persist beyond today, there may be serious crisis that may result in breakdown of law and order in the state.
The lawmaker called on the house to appeal to IPMAM to shelve the strike while also mandating the House Committee on petroleum matters to interface with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to it.
Members who spoke included member representing Nsit Ubium, Mr. Otobong Bob and his Esit Eket/Ibeno counterpart, Udobia Friday Udobia, who expressed worry over the issue,calling on the House to step in to salvage it.
The Speaker, Elder Udeme Otong who presided over Plenary committed the matter to the Committee on petroleum Matters to liaise with IPMAM and relevant stakeholders in the sector to bring a solution to the crisis.
