Electricity theft in Akwa Ibom: Police, PHEDC officials indicted in high-powered stealing, vandalisation of equipment
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Power and Petroleum Development, Dr. John James Etim, addressing journalists recently.
No high-powered electricity theft and vandalisation can succeed without the involvement l of those in the system particularly PHEDC officials and the police as well as other security personnel.
That was the consensus when the Commissioner of Power and Petroleum Development, Dr John James Etim addressed the January 2022 Congress of the Akwa Ibom Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, at the Press Centre, Uyo on Thursday, 14th January 2022 as journalists probed into forces behind incessant vandalisation and theft of highly volatile electricity equipment such as transformers and armor cables in the state.
Reacting to the issue, the Commissioner of Power and Petroleum Development bemoaned and warned against wanton vandalisation of electrical equipment in the state but asserted that some cases of electricity theft and vandalisation are beyond the capacity of ordinary people as highly technical knowhow and experience are needed to prosecute them.
While admitting that “people involved in these criminalities are within the system”, Dr Etim noted that the development is fast degenerating into the case of “the more you look, the less you see”.
The Power and Petroleum Development commission, who was amazed that most the incidents occurred under the watch of the police, particularly mentioned the vandalisation of a transformer in front of a police station in Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, despite the that fact that it was under police surveillance.
Earlier in a press briefing on the Power for All 2021 Initiative update on Wednesday, Dr John James Etim had expressed optimism that government was working tirelessly to circumvent the system in view of the negative impact of vandalisation on the people and government of Akwa Ibom State and expressed confidence in the integrity of the police and PHEDC to rise to the challenge.
He identified vandalisation and theft of electricity equipment and accessories as the major factors that militated against government affords to meet the December 2021 timeline for the completion of the Initiative, urging the people to confront the issue.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. The citizens also owe themselves the responsibility of protecting the power infrastructure in the vicinity of where they live and where they work. They must ensure prompt payment of consumption charges and meter their subscription, to avoid estimated billing, the Commissioner noted.
Dr John James Etim asserted that the programme has hit a 94% of completion rate as of the end of December 2021, stressing that the three components of the programme, namely – Connection to National Grid, Metering and Networking – have received tremendous success since its introduction.
The Networking component of the Initiative, Dr Etim said, has seen the government replacing and repairing stolen and vandalized electricity equipment including cables and transformers, adding that “we need a functional networking to enable users to enjoy electricity proper billings”.
The Commissioner for Power and Petroleum Development noted that the state government had procured and installed 11000 meters in Ossong Ama and Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo in 1st Phase of the programme and 32,000 metres in Uyo Metropolis in the 2nd Phase under metering as more meters have been earmarked for 2022.
He explained that although the Power for All 2021 Initiative could not be achieved within the December 2021 targeted date, the Initiative has paved way for 2274 villages in the state that were not linked to National Grid to enjoy electricity, adding that the 265 villages that could not meet the December 2021 deadline will be linked to the National Grid this year.
“At the last count, we have attained 94 % in the connection of the 2,274 gazetted villages to the national grid, and believe that we have performed remarkably well in this regard. This feat was attained through the diligence and committed support of our dear Governor, who took particular interest in the power sector.
“The remaining communities yet to be connected will soon be connected, so they can join the league of communities with public power. To complement this, we tapped into the World Bank/REA Nigeria Electrification Program and investment in renewable energy, and over 25 communities have been earmarked across the state for solar-powered mini-grid. Work has already started in Ini local government to build a mini-grid that will supply solar-powered electricity to the communities there.
“The Governor Udom Emmanuel-led administration has achieved applaudable success in providing prepaid meters for installation in key residential clusters. Under the pilot scheme, the Akwa Ibom State Government had earmarked 32,000 units of prepaid meters for installation in homes and businesses, commencing in the metropolitan area of the state. So far, 12,000 units have been distributed and installed. We are also expecting additional units of meters from the Federal Government through the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) due to the goodwill and the good relationship our Governor and his lieutenants have maintained with the Government at the center. However, these meters will be provided through PHEDC.
“The efforts of the present administration to optimize the current power network have been geared towards the continuous servicing, repairs, maintenance, and installation of major injection substations, distribution transformers, armored cables, feeder pillars, electric poles, and other capital-intensive power-related infrastructure. The Ministry of Power and Petroleum Development, under Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration, constantly receives complaints about failed or damaged power systems. In response, the ministry, with the support of the Governor, intervenes through repairs and replacements of power equipment and accessories, as the need arises.
“To give a little more detail, the AKSG has approved, released and installed over 470 Distribution Transformers all over the 31 LGAs, constructed over 100km of both 33KV HT networks and 11KV HT networks all over the State, and completed the installations of hundreds of Feeder Pillars, and rehabilitation of over 300 distribution transformer substations,” Dr. Etim explained.
According to him, the Peoples and residents of Akwa Ibom State might become the first set of people in Nigeria to enjoy 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply 2022 through the introduction of Independent Power Plant, IPP, courtesy of the state government.
Dr. John James Etim said Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat will be used to kickstart the pilot programme before extending it to the residential areas within the year.
The Power and Petroleum Development helmsman posited that experts are already in Uyo to work on modalities to roll out the project.
He also noted that his ministry has been negotiating with PHEDC to ensure improved power distribution and metering in the state, stressing that his advocacy against estimated billings by PHEDC will soon yield positive results.
“This administration piloted by Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel at its inception promised to attract industries and manufacturing concerns to the state. The administration realizing that industrialization was impossible without a power supply, chased both goals with equal vigour. This chase birthed the 33KV injection substation at Nwaniba, which helped step up our power supply to citizens. As a result, electric power became available up to 20 hours each day in some parts of the state, and the electricity in the metropolis was nicknamed ‘Ikang Udom’.
“Flowing from this huge success, our leader and Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was encouraged to make other strategic investments in the power sector. These included the 132 X 33KV, 2×60 MVA transmission substation at Ekim, in addition to the upgrade and optimization of the 132 X 33KV, 3×60 MVA transmission station at Afaha Ube Itam in Uyo metropolis, 33/11KV, 2×15 MVA injection substation at Edet Akpan Ave (aka 4 Lanes), Uyo. and the replacement of damaged and unserviceable transformers, and other power equipment and accessories all over the state.
“In recognition of the huge investments in this sector, the state was nicknamed ‘The Power State’ by both the Vice President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, and the then Minister of Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN. They both unreservedly commended the Governor for his foresight in investing so massively in the power sector. To directionally condense these efforts, the Governor created a Ministry of Power and Petroleum Development to drive the mission and vision of government as they pertain to power on one hand, and of course petroleum on the other,” he said.
