Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno has established a committee to address persistent electricity challenges in the state. The committee includes members of the State Executive Council and local government chairmen, tasked with reviewing ongoing power sector reforms and mapping a practical path toward reliable electricity supply. This follows discussions at the Power Summit held in September 2025 at Four Points by Sheraton, Uyo. Dr Aniekan Umanah, Commissioner for Information, disclosed the development after a joint meeting between the governor and local government leaders. The committee is expected to assess reform proposals, harmonise strategies and deliver a clear action plan within a reasonable timeframe.
Experts and technical consultants have presented options, including solar and clean energy solutions, to support the initiative. Commissioner for Power Iniobong Robinson urged residents to remain patient, noting that recent legal changes now allow states to generate, distribute and manage electricity independently. Mr Eyo Ekpo, the state's electricity sector reform consultant, said the 2023 Electricity Act made state-level electricity markets feasible. He highlighted Akwa Ibom's strong potential due to its gas resources, power plants, transmission infrastructure and existing distribution framework, currently managed by Port Harcourt Distribution Company, which may transition to state control.
Governor Umo Eno is acting within a new legal window created by the 2023 Electricity Act, not inventing solutions from scratch. His move signals a shift from blaming federal structures to testing whether state-level action can deliver what decades of national reform have not. If Akwa Ibom successfully leverages its gas assets and the proposed state-controlled distribution model, it could set a precedent other states may follow. But until meters are read accurately and bills reflect actual supply, such committees risk being seen as procedural theatre.
