Akwa Ibom residents groan as fuel price, prolonged blackout hit harder

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People in Akwa Ibom State, particularly business owners, are feeling the effects of the abrupt increase in fuel prices and the extended power outage.

In the oil-rich state, livelihood and socio-economic activities are at their lowest point, yet a remedy is not visible.

ZINGTIE reports that the residents, in their struggle to cope with the exorbitant fuel pump price of N1,300 and its accompanying difficulties, have also faced a nearly three-week blackout that has devastated businesses.

A brief distance that tricyclists used to charge N100 for is now priced at N200. Additionally, a cold sachet of water that was previously sold at two for N50.00 (Fifty Naira) has increased to N100. The same applies to photocopying materials, which was previously N50.00 per page and is now N100.00.

A resident of Afaha Ube, in the capital of Akwa Ibom State (Uyo), named Chimaobi and known for selling ice blocks, recounted how his business has come to a halt due to the blackout, as he cannot afford fuel for his generator at the cost of N1,300 per litre.

“For over two weeks now, I have not done anything because of this issue of light.

“I can’t buy fuel at N1250 or N1300 to power my generator, because at the end of the day. I’ll run at a loss,” he said.

Households have their own sorrowful stories regarding the outage, as most of the women interviewed in the report share one commonality, “they are unable to cook in large quantities to preserve in the fridge.”

Nonetheless, the Portharcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHDC) released a statement over the weekend linking the ongoing power outage to a line fault on the Aba-Itu 132kv line.

It was assured in the statement that power would be restored as soon as possible, with the relevant team working to achieve this and urging residents to exercise more patience.

According to ZINGTIE, Akwa Ibom State gets its electricity from three sources: the national grid via the Aba–Itu 132kV transmission line, the Itu–Adiabo (Calabar) transmission line, and the state-operated Ibom Power Plant.

An insider from Ibom Power disclosed that the Itu–Adiabo line from Calabar was vandalised years ago, making the old Aba–Itu transmission line the sole source of grid power supply into the state, alongside generation from Ibom Power.

The source indicated that the frequent faults on the Aba–Itu line were due to its age and the need for reconductoring.

Decades ago, the Aba-Itu line was constructed, and it now has a limited capacity.

“Unfortunately, work cannot commence on the line because the Itu–Adiabo line is still unavailable due to vandalism.

“If work begins on the Aba–Itu line now, Akwa Ibom will have no source of grid electricity supply at all.

“The long-term solution is to first rehabilitate the Itu–Adiabo line to ensure the state will still have at least one source of grid power supply before work begins on the Aba–Itu line,” he said.

He added that, “An immediate solution is to begin the work on the Aba-Itu line.

“Since TCN says the reconductoring of the Aba–Itu line would take about three (3) months, during this period, if Ibom Power has a steady gas supply, it can generate electricity and supply the state, while the Aba-Itu line is being repaired.

“Under this arrangement, Akwa Ibom would depend entirely on Ibom Power for those three months, because the Aba–Itu line would be under repair and the Itu–Adiabo line is unavailable,” he said.

In the meantime, TCN has expressed worries regarding the frequent acts of vandalism occurring on the Ikot Abasi–Eket transmission line that carries away Ibom Power’s output.

As reported by TCN, the Ikot Abasi–Eket line was vandalised in November of the previous year, necessitating an intervention from Engr. Camillus Umoh, the Managing Director of Ibom Power, to facilitate its prompt restoration.

TCN disclosed that certain transmission projects in the state were left unfinished because of youth unrest and community demands for compensation.

It required the backing of the Akwa Ibom State government, as the ‘Landlord’, to inform residents about the significance of safeguarding electricity infrastructure.

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