Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State says his administration will build industrial parks to boost activities at the envisaged Ibaka deep seaport as well as oil and gas free zone.
Emmanuel said this on Tuesday in Uyo while inaugurating a 33/11KV electricity injection substation located at Edet Akpan Avenue by Nwaniba waterfall in the state capital.
The governor said that constant electricity supply was germane to the takeoff of industrial parks slated for both Mbo and Ikot Abasi local government areas.
He said that some investors were ready to invest in the state as soon as they were sure of conducive environment for their investments.
“Our duty is to put Akwa Ibom state on the threshold of full industrialisation. With power, we will do a lot of things.
“The oil and gas free zone authority is earmarked for Ikot Abasi and the deep seaport will come in Ibaka in Mbo,” Emmanuel said.
The governor said that he was building many electricity substations to stabilise power and create enabling environment for the investors.
Emmanuel said that the ongoing construction of another substation at Ekim in Mkpat Enin local government area was at an advance stage of completion.
He said that as soon as that project was completed, a test run of 24 hours electricity supply would be carried out in five local government areas of the state.
The governor said that he was committed to making Akwa Ibom a role model in electricity supply for the rest of Africa.
In his speech, the Special Assistant on power, Meyen Etukudo, said that the new electricity injection substation would improve power supply in many areas of the state capital.
Etukudo listed the areas to include Shelter Afrique, Ewet Housing Estate, Osongama, Four lanes, Brook Street and Nsikak Edouk Avenue.
Etukudo, who is also the Managing Director of Ibom Power Company, described the Uyo substation as the most modern with inbuilt circuits and other components for easy operations.
He thanked the state governor for intervening when the project suffered initial setback while looking for appropriate site.
In his remarks, the consultant to the project and Managing Director, Four Power Consortium Ltd, Mathew Edevbie, said that Akwa Ibom was at the verge of attaining 24 hours electricity supply.
He thanked the state governor for taking seriously the issue of power supply, explaining that if state governments should ignore electricity distribution, power supply will be impossible.
Edevbie said that the substation was compact and modern with less negative impacts on the environment.
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