Grid Collapse: One Nigerian State Shines at Night When Others are in Darkness. This is why

While many Nigerian states continue to experience frequent power outages due to the country’s ageing electricity grid, Akwa Ibom State consistently shines as an exception. Thanks to its independent power plant, the state has maintained a steady supply of electricity, even when other states are plunged into darkness.

On Tuesday, October 15, Nigeria suffered another nationwide grid collapse, just 24 hours after a previous collapse. The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) confirmed the incident, which affected areas under its jurisdiction, including Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River states. However, Akwa Ibom was notably absent from the list of impacted states.

Bayelsa, in particular, has been grappling with prolonged power outages since July, when vandals destroyed 13 transmission towers on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line. The state’s government-run power plant has long been inoperative, leaving residents without electricity.

In stark contrast, Akwa Ibom continues to benefit from the Ibom Power Plant, which was established during Governor Victor Attah’s administration. Located in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, the plant began commercial operations in 2009 and has an installed capacity of 191 megawatts, although its licensed capacity is 685 megawatts. The plant uses natural gas from Savannah Energy to generate power, ensuring a reliable supply for the state.

This strategic investment has garnered praise from public figures such as Borono Bassey, a public relations specialist in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. In a social media post, Mr. Bassey lauded the foresight of former Governor Attah and acknowledged the efforts of successive administrations in maintaining the power plant. He highlighted the stark difference between Akwa Ibom and the rest of the nation, which has been suffering from widespread power outages.

“While the entire nation was thrown into darkness, Akwa Ibom residents enjoyed uninterrupted power supply, a testament to the enduring vision of the state’s leadership,” Bassey remarked.

On Tuesday evening, PHED announced that power had been restored to the affected states, thanking customers for their patience during the outage.

(Premium Times)