Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state has sacked the Managing Director of the state owned Ibom Power company, Mr Meyen Etukudoh with immediate effect.
Ibom power, a power generating company established during the administration of former Governor Victor Attah between 1999 and 2007 has been struggling to provide regular power supply in the state.
Currently, the state has been thrown into darkness following the power outage that has lasted more than two days,
In a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah and made available to NewsNGR, it directed the former Managing Director to handover to the commissioner, Ministry of Power “who will oversee the company till further notice.’’
The statement read in part, “ As part of the ongoing restructuring of the administration to align with the machinery of government in the power sector, to the Arise Agenda, the Governor of Akwa Ibom state , Pastor Umo Eno has relieved the Managing Director of Ibom Power Company limited, Engr. Meyen Etukudoh of his appointment with immediate effect.
“Engr. Etukudoh is therefore directed to handover to the Hon Commissioner, Ministry of Power, who will oversee the company till further notice.’’
But in a statement released today and made available to the media, the former MD blamed the power outage experienced in the state on unavailability of gas supply to the power company.
He expressed regret that the gas supplier, “Savannah Energy recently sabotaged the laudable efforts of Ibom Power by cutting off gas supply to the power plant.”
“This loss of gas supply coincided with a reported fault on the 132kv – Itu – Aba transmission line which transports power from the national grid in and out of the state, hence the state-wide outage.
According to him, “while the transmission company of Nigeria is working to restore the 132kv transmission line to import power from the national grid to the state, the management of Ibom Power Company has continued to engage the management of Savannah Energy to restore gas supply to the Ibom Power plant but Savannah Energy has remained adamant, claiming underpayment from Ibom Power.’’
It was not immediately clear whether the statement by the former MD came first before he was sacked or he issued the statement after he was fired.