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 it 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 Committee for their 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 2017 National Power Safety Summit.
Earlier, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said that the Committee was attracted to the state by it 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 it citizenry by building Sub-stations and providing transformers and other facilities to boost electricity supply.
He announced plans of the Assembly 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 act poses 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.
