FG expresses readiness to partner states in delivering sustainable reliable electricity
Ikechukwu Agbamegbue, Uyo
The Federal Government has assured of its readiness to partner states in their resolve to deliver sustainable reliable electricity for the people.
Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, gave the assurance at Ikot Ekpene during the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Summit 2025, with the theme: “Attaining Energy Security and Universal Access for Akwa Ibom State within the Framework of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry”
The summit was to profer solutions and create path ways towards solving the unreliable power supply, reach under served communitiesand and stop the heavy dependence on the national grid.
The Minister of Power, represented by his Chief Technical Adviser, Mr Adedayo Olowoniyi, commended the State Government for taking bold steps towards securing the state energy future with the actions taking so far leading to the summit, reflecting a visionary approach in shaping a viable road map for the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Electricity market.
Mr Adelabu urged the state to effectively coordinate with the Federal Government to ensure it aligns with the national framework.
“This summit is timely and significant. As Akwa Ibom is energized, industry will grow, productivity will rise, and the economy will expand.”
Declaring the summit open, The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno said the summit must move beyond being another talk shop to producing a practical roadmap with timelines, clear responsibilities, and measurable outcomes, describing it as a major turning point in the State’s quest for energy security and unlimited access to power.
Governor Eno, while noting the abundance of energy potential in the state, lamented that it has not been fully utilized as end users still grapple with epileptic, unreliable power supply and many communties underserved.
Governor Eno queried the inefficiency witnessed in the power sector in the state after huge investment in the sector by the state government.
The Governor emphasized that the summit is to create a clear road map to ensure total and affordable access to electricity noting that electricity is not a luxury but a fundamental enabler of modern life and a critical part of the attainment of the ARISE Agenda.
He said the time has come for someone to take a critical decision to make things work in the State’s power sector by asking the right questions and getting the right answers.
“For decades, our people have lived with the paradox of great energy potential but little to show for it. Electricity is not a luxury; it is a fundamental enabler of modern life.
“This Summit should deliver a concrete action plan that ensures every home, every business, and every school in Akwa Ibom has reliable power.”
Governor Eno underscored the importance of collaboration between the State and the Federal Government, recalling the recent MoU signed with the Rural Electrification Agency to expand access in underserved communities.
He also stressed that Akwa Ibom State’s electricity reforms would be anchored on transparency, professionalism, and partnerships with the private sector, development partners, and local communities.
“Our vision is ambitious but achievable. We will not politicize electricity. We will build a State electricity market that stands the test of time and serves our people.”
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Deputy Governor who is the chairman organising committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, noted that the defining moments was the the passage of the electricity act 2023, and the state taking advantage of Federal Government directive that states take power destiny in their hands.
Senator Eyakenyi, described the gathering as a historic moment, not only for Akwa Ibom State but for Nigeria as a whole.
She noted that with the passage of the Electricity Act 2023 and the State’s own Electricity Law 2025, Akwa Ibom had the foundation to chart its own electricity market.
“This summit is structured to align politics, policy, and investment with technical and financial reforms that will deliver real change.”
She further urged participants, regulators, investors, development partners, and community leaders to approach discussions with seriousness and focus, with the ultimate goal of producing a State Electricity Sector Action Programme to guide implementation.
Team Lead of Power Component, UKNIAF, Mr. Eyo Ekpo, and representatives of donor agencies including the UN Development Programme, pledged support for the State’s electricity ambitions, emphasizing that the journey to a state-led electricity market was critical for Nigeria’s development.
Other goodwill messages also came from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was represented by Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Chairman, House Committee on Power; representatives of the Governors of Enugu, Abia, Cross River, and Bayelsa States; all of whom praised Akwa Ibom for setting a precedent that would benefit other states.
Senator Ekong Sampson, representing Eket Senatorial District, who spoke for the National Assembly Caucus from the State, described the initiative as bold and impressive, promising their readiness to move for legislative backing to ensure that the reforms succeed.
The high point of the event was the official unveiling of the State Electricity Regulatory Policy and the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Law, jointly performed by Governor Eno, Deputy Governor Eyakenyi, the representative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Power’s representative, and other dignitaries, including the Governors’ representatives, the Chairman of Ibom Power, the Acting Managing Director of Ibom Power, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Secretary to the State Government, and the Executive Assistant to the Governor.
The summit, themed “Attaining Energy Security and Universal Access for Akwa Ibom State within the Framework of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry”, continues with technical sessions and discussions designed to produce actionable strategies for reliable power supply across the State.
