By Asuquo Edem
Worried by the epileptic electricity supply from Power Companies and it's resultant effect on citizens and businesses in Akwa Ibom State, Lawmakers in the State Assembly yesterday during Plenary considered a Bill to establish the Akwa Ibom Electricity Regulatory Board.
The Bill, a private member Bill which is sponsored by the member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno, Hon. Udobia Friday Udo scaled through second reading yesterday.
While speaking on the general principles of the Bill, the Lawmaker noted that the Board when set up will promote policy and regulatory measures to ensure the expansion of efficient power generation and transmission towards the development of a competitive electricity market.
According to Hon Udo, the Bill would "stimulate policy measures that will attract investments across the State Electricity value chain to re-energize economic growth, drive job creation and improve the living conditions of residents of Akwa Ibom State; provide a clear legal and institutional framework for the formulation and adoption of a state Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan."
The Esit Eket / Ibeno Lawmaker, added that the bill will also "Stimulate policies to address technology limitation and out dated infrastructure that are responsible for value chain losses in the electricity supply by attracting sustainable investments in new and efficient power generation technology and strengthening existing power plants; encourage investments, through policy and regulatory measures, in power generation, transmission, distribution, and related sub-sectors in the electricity industry in the State.
"Provide a framework to stimulate the development and utilization of renewable energy sources and create an enabling environment to attract investment in renewable energy sources in order to increase the contribution of renewable energy to the energy mix; provide a framework for improvement of access to electricity in rural, unserved, underserved, pri-urban and urban areas through the use of conventional sources and renewable energy off-grid and mini-grid solutions; promote indigenous capacity in technology for renewable energy sources through a framework for local content in the State electricity supply industry."
Speaking in support of the numerous merits of the Bill, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem stated that it will serve as massive support for growth to entrepreneurs and artisans. He informed the House that Enugu State had passed same Bill and has brought progress to them. According to him, "It is instructive that in March 2023, former president Buhari signed and removed generation and transmission of electricity from legislative list thereby giving States the rights to generate and transmit electricity". He asserted that with the Bill in force, Akwa Ibom will manage it's electricity better still since it has its own genco in Ibom Power Company.
On his part, the member representing Nsit Ubium, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob while noting that the present electricity supply was a sad one however expressed optimism that with the law in place, profiteering off indigenes of the State by electricity companies would be a thing of the past as the State would be better placed to manage it's electricity supply to the benefit of it's citizens.
However, the Speaker, Elder Udeme Otong referred the Bill to the Committee on Special Projects for indepth study and to report back to the House in two weeks.
The House was further adjourned to reconvene on the 25th of April.
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