Akwa
Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has tasked the National Assembly to
evolve legislative framework that would fast track the revamping of power lines
to facilitate power distribution.
Governor
Emmanuel gave the charge while receiving members of the Senate Committee on
Power led by the committee chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who called on
him at the Hilltop Mansion, Government House, Uyo.
He described power as critical to the industralisation
programme of both the state and Federal government, explaining that Ibom Power
Company generates over 153 megawatt of electricity but regretted its inability
to distribute the power.
The Governor made a case for the privitisation of
national electric power generation and distribution, saying that the move would
pave way for private investors to regulate electricity operations in the
country.
He commended the senators for ther decision to
brainstorm on measures of ensuring power safety in the country and expressed
appreciation to the committee for making Akwa Ibom the destination for the 2017
National Power Safety Summit.
Earlier, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said the Committee
was attracted to the state by its peacful, serene and safety ambience which he
noted has made Akwa Ibom a destination for all and used the occasion to commend
the state’s efforts at providing steady power for its citizenry by building
Sub-stations and providing transformers and other facilities to boost
electricity supply.
He announced plans by the senate to checkmate
vandalisation of electrical infrastructure stressing that electricity was a
critical infrastructure which must be protected.
The Senator frowned at the spate of vandalisation of
electrical installations as well as illegal connections on electricity lines
saying that the actions pose serious threat to lives and urged the state
government to evolve penalties that would check the trend.
He thanked the state government for the hospitality
extended to them and provision of logistics for the hosting of the summit.
Secretary to the State Government Sir Etekamba Umoren,
Chairman, Ibom Power Company, Engr Etido Inyang, Manager Port Harcourt
Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) Mr Mathew Ebevbie and some Executive
Council Members were on hand to receive the Senate Committee members.
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