The Federal Government has urged the Akwa Ibom State Government to prioritize industrial development as a means of maximizing the benefits of power distribution for its citizens.
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, FCA, made the call during the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Summit held on September 18, 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene.
Chief Adelabu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Power, Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi, explained that electricity supply would only translate into tangible benefits if industries are created to generate jobs and foster productivity.
He commended the vision of Governor Umo Eno to have an improved energy access and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s readiness to support and partner with the state to ensure affordable power supply.
“Productivity is the key element to consuming electricity. The state government must leverage industry creation so that citizens become direct beneficiaries of effective power supply,” Adelabu said, stressing the need for sustained collaboration between both tiers of government to drive economic growth through energy access.
Speaking also, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno called on stakeholders to go beyond deliberations and commit to a practical roadmap that will deliver reliable power supply across the state.
Governor Eno stressed that the forum must not become “another talk shop” but a call to action with clear timelines, responsibilities, and measurable outcomes. He said only through such structured planning can the state make meaningful progress towards achieving total electricity access.
He reaffirmed his administration’s vision that electricity is not a luxury but a fundamental enabler of modern life. He highlighted its transformative impact on rural health clinics, farmers, artisans, and students, noting that steady power supply saves lives, boosts incomes, enhances productivity, and secures a brighter future for children.
“Electricity is the basic and most important resource to give our people the opportunities to live longer and live better,” Eno said, while pledging his government’s commitment to ensuring energy access becomes a reality for all Akwa Ibom citizens.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Deputy Governor and Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, described the gathering as a defining moment for the state, explaining that the summit marks the first of its kind, wholly devoted to charting the course of a subnational electricity market, following the enactment of the State Electricity Law 2025. According to her, Akwa Ibom is poised to leverage its abundant natural gas reserves, renewable energy potential, and the Ibom Power Company to build a reliable power market that will serve the people, attract private investment, and reduce dependence on the national grid.
Senator Eyakenyi noted that the event was structured around five key sessions ranging from policy and legal frameworks to investment, regulation, and rural electrification, all geared towards producing an actionable roadmap for universal electricity access.
She submitted that the ultimate goal is to deliver a State Electricity Sector Action Programme for Governor Umo Eno’s immediate consideration, adding that electricity reform must go beyond policy documents to disciplined execution, stakeholder collaboration, and practical solutions that guarantee inclusion and sustainable development.
The event featured goodwill messages from the Senate President, state governors, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, private sector leaders, and other dignitaries. It also included separate presentations and panel discussions, with the summit scheduled to conclude on Friday, September 19, 2025.
