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Tag: ’Ibom

  • Ibom Power re-strategises for better performance

    Ibom Power re-strategises for better performance

    Ibom Power Company Limited (IPC) is re-strategising its operations through the implementation of its  Managing Director,  Meyen Etukudo, has said.

    Speaking after a three-day training workshop organised for the board and management of the company at the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo, the MD said the aim of the workshop was to develop a synergy between the board, management and the staff.

    The workshop was facilitated by PEK International Consulting Networks Limited.

    The workshop dealt with managing stakeholders’ interest, corporate governance and corporate performance, transparency and accountability  and the challenges of good corporate governance.

    Deputy Managing Director Neslon Usiere said the workshop was the first of its kind in Ibom Power Company Limited.

    He said the synergy between the board and management  would develop Ibom Power within the shortest possible time.

    The Chairman of Ibom Power Board of Directors,  Etido Inyang, stated that the re-strategising would actualise  Governor Udom Emmanuel’s vision.

    He lauded the facilitators and urged the board and management to put to use the knowledge gathered at the training in the discharge of their duties.

  • NDDC donates 500kva generator to Ibom Specialist Hospital

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated a 500 KVA generator to the Ibom Specialist Hospital in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    The Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere, made the donation on Saturday when he led a delegation from the Commission to the hospital.

    Ekere said the NDDC would partner the Akwa Ibom State Government to ensure the objective upon which the Ibom Specialist Hospital was conceptualised and built was achieved.

    According to Ekere, the equipment and facilities in the hospital cannot function optimally and efficiently without constant power, a deficiency he noted necessitated the NDDC’s intervention towards solving the electricity challenge of the hospital.

    His words: “NDDC will also partner the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Limited to ensure that the hospital is connected to the national grid.”

    He said the hospital which was built by the Akpabio administration to curb medical tourism in the country has world class facilities that can provide services that meet international best standard.

    Ekere explained that one of Niger Delta’s health challenges is the effect of hydrocarbon emission which causes cancer hence the determination of the NDDC to partner the hospital to have a Cancer Centre that is functional, effective and efficient.

    He commended the staff for exhibiting a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties to patients.

    Ekere stated that the Commission remains committed towards partnering the Akwa Ibom State government in ensuring that intervention projects that add value to the lives of the people are done.

    He said: “Whoever takes credit for projects is not the issue. The people who are beneficiaries of the project should take credit.”

    Ekere said the NDDC Governing Board would soon pay a courtesy call to the Akwa Ibom government to work out modalities for a partnership that benefits the people.

    He said: “Our job is to partner with various state governments to have enduring structures in the region.”

    Responding, a director in the hospital, Dr. Kofo Ogunyanrin, thanked the NDDC for intervening to solve the electricity challenge, stating that the generator donated would assist the hospital to function optimally.

  • We are building capacity for improvement, says Ibom Power MD

    We are building capacity for improvement, says Ibom Power MD

    The management of Ibom Power Company (IPC) is implementing a Capacity Building Programme (CBP). This programme was created as part of the company’s policy on business continuity and performance enhancement.

    Speaking on the development, the Managing Director of Ibom Power, Dr. Victor Udo said “the CBP is a learning platform to train and develop participants’ competency in electric power business operations. The programme is limited to a maximum of 40 participants at any given time”.

    “The training programme includes internship, apprenticeship, industrial training for Polytechnic and University students along with members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to IPC” he said.

    The MD said that “since July 2014 when the programme commenced, the CBP initiative has been beneficial to candidates from across the three (3) Senatorial Districts in AkwaIbom State”.

    According to the power Boss, “thus far, at least 64 individuals have been involved in CBP. When there are openings for employment in the company, some CBP candidates are considered based on their performance”.

    Speaking further he added that “while IPC encourages staff that can be pulled by other plants to remain with the company, the capacity building programme serves as a ‘pipeline’ to train potential replacements for any employee who chooses to take an appointment somewhere else”.

    He concluded by saying “over the years, staff of Ibom power have been recruited by other power companies in Nigeria and the Middle East. With the CBP and our succession plan, we will always have people ready to step-in as the need arises”.

     

  • ‘Ibom power expansion is for industrialisation, economic devt’

    ‘Ibom power expansion is for industrialisation, economic devt’

    It was a landmark achievement for the government and people of Akwa Ibom State when the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) gave approval for the expansion of Ibom Power Station from 191 megawatts (Mw) capacity to 685Mw, reflecting an increase of 494Mw.

    The Ibom Power plant, an independent power plant (IPP) that is 100 per cent owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, is gas-fired power station licensed on May 12, 2008 to generate 191Mw of electricity. It is currently managed by Ibom Power Company Limited.

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel said the expansion of the capacity of the power plant was in line with his electioneering promise of ensuring energy security and commitment to turning around the economy of the state through industrialisation.

    “This capacity expansion is to leverage and build on the uncommon transformation of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s administration, and sustainable public-private sector initiative, thereby opening up opportunities for growth and improved living standards,” he said.

    Ibom Power Company Limited had on December 19, 2014, submitted an application to amend its operational licence to 685Mw. The application was approved by NERC on October 27, 2015. Governor Udom said he was excited by this huge achievement, which would make the state immensely contribute to solving the power problems in the country.

    “I am proud to say that even with several challenges in the industry, Ibom Power is contributing 113Mw of generation to the national grid and this is highly commendable. This achievement did not come by accident, it happened because our state government over the years invested heavily in the power sector value chain,” he said.

    He said the achievement is imperative knowing the role power plays in industrialisation process. “This is consistent with the policy of my administration to industrialise the state, we would soon come for embedded generation licence that would supply power to our industrial estates to be established along the coastal line,” he said, adding “we will partner with NERC and other stakeholders in the country to make our state a model of steady power supply for industrialisation and sustainable development consistent with our ‘dakkada’ movement.”

    The Managing Director, Ibom Power Company Limited, Dr. Victor Udoh said: “This licence expansion will allow Ibom Power to contribute significantly towards the solution of the national electricity problems. His Excellency’s administration seeks to make the state a power exporting hub in the federation.”  The governor vividly captured the essence and efficacy of the milestone achievement. Power is a great enabler of growth in any economy and he clearly understands this.

    “This explains the thoughtfulness of the state to partner more with NERC and other stakeholders in the country to make the state a model of steady power supply for industrialisation and sustainable development consistent with its ‘dakkada’ movement. It further shows that governance can work to power the economy where government means serious business and is committed to making a difference. The state government currently has a stable gas processing plant that supplies gas not only to Ibom Power but also to Alaoji power plant in Abia State, Unicem and Odukpani power plant in Cross River State and to a fertiliser plant in Rivers State.

    “Ordinarily, the expansion licence implies more power supply to the Akwa Ibom economy. It means more income, savings, and investment on which the models of vibrant and forward looking economies are anchored.  From the analytical standpoint, the propensity to increase the state’s production possibility curves is bound to rise significantly with the knock-on effect of these critical factors in accelerating productivity and development in various timeframes.

    “With more income streams engendered by greater availability of power supply, it is expected that the middle class would grow, unleashing higher demand, taste, expectations and preferences that need to be satisfied. With the need, would also evolve investors and entrepreneurs to seize the new windows of opportunity in the competition to satisfy the demands of this important class.”

    He noted that for the government, the licence expansion translates to higher prospects of growing the internally generated revenue (IGR), especially now that the global oil price shocks has resulted in the tumbling of the monthly revenue allocation. The envisaged growth would be unlocked not by higher tax rates or multiple taxes, but by  widening the tax net to capture more payers (income earners and entrepreneurs and investors) through pay as you earn (PAYE), companies’ income tax, value added tax (VAT), among others. Of course, more revenue for government means more fund to finance more projects and improve citizens’ welfare and achieve more inclusive growth, he added.

    “It further implies more employment generation, especially when the formal and informal sectors are deftly empowered to enhance the emergence of the third market. The youths of the state need to be gainfully employed, and this brings home the real impact of the steps being taken by government to increase and stabilise power supply in the state. This would reduce the incidence of such societal ills as youth restiveness, insecurity, kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in the state.

    “Perhaps those who do not appreciate the importance of power in an economy should try to live without it for some months. They should then have another scenario where there is quality power supply and the evolution of even such small scale businesses as motor mechanics, barbers, hairdressers, welders, and furniture makers, among others.  When more than 90 per cent of the communities in the state have distribution infrastructure, they would have a better understanding of the state government’s decision to commit the princely sum of $22million to building the transmission line that links Ibom Power to the national grid and wait for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to refund the money and take over ownership of the line in line with the National Energy Policy.

    Udo says Ibom Plant’s immediate next steps would be “to continue the site preparation for phase two, aggressively pursue a power purchase agreement with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), select the best of several investors complete all other commercial agreements such as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), operation and maintenance (O&M), and commence the project as soon as possible.”

    He said: “Our rural electrification projects are in place to ensure100 per cent coverage. The State invested in the Port Harcourt Distribution Company (PHEDC) in addition to gas infrastructure, transmission lines and utility competency will soon payoff, adding that the building blocks necessary for steady power supply in the State are in place. A better commercial and technical operation of the distribution system is the missing link.

    “It is also worth celebrating that the state has developed the capacity to manage the power system operationally, technically and financially. “As part of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s capacity building programme, we have developed power utility management competency in Akwa Ibom State. Today, Ibom Power is operated by indigenes of our state. And for the first time, we recently celebrated 114 days without forced outage. We have also developed competency for commercial and technical management of the power distribution across the entire State.”

  • Ibom Power set for better days, says MD

    The Managing Director of Ibom Power Company (IPC), Dr. Victor Udo, has said better days lie ahead for the company.

    He added that Governor Udom Emmanuel’s blueprint would revolutionise Akwa Ibom State power sector.

    Dr. Udo spoke with reporters in his office. He commended the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for issuing Ibom power plant a licence expansion from 190MW to 685MW.

    He said Emmanuel received the licence expansion from NERC on behalf IPC management to kick start the Phase 2 of Ibom power plant. He stated that the Governorhas given the management of IPC the needed support to reposition the company to supply power for the expected industrialisation of the state.

    Speaking on the three-pronged activitiesimplemented in the company as directed by the Governor, the MD said: “His Excellency asked me to stabilise the plant operations, build capacity and instill good corporate governance.We have done this in the last one year while summarily making the State a power exporting hub in the federation”.

    On the plant stabilisation, he stated that: “Unit 3 which is the biggest in the fleet of three, recently marked 114 days without forced outage. Unit 2 completion and commissioning is expected before 2016. We are proud of these accomplishments”.

    He went on: “In the area of capacity building, the company has established a pool of interns and apprentices. A succession plan for all categories of staff is also in place. Therefore, the company is capable of exporting expertise without avoid should other power generation companies across the globe decide to recruit any of our staff.”

    Speaking on good corporate governance, the Ibom power boss said his experience from corporate America where he practiced for over 20 years and Emmanuel’s vast background in corporate governance has transformed IPC intoan economic asset.

    “We have developed a business plan that employees understand. Our goal is for Ibom Power to be a model for moving AkwaIbom State from civil service and government dependency into Corporate AkwaIbom; a private sector driven society,” he stated.

    Addressing the issue of gas supply for the expansion of the plant’s capacity (Phase 2), the MD said: “Ibom power plant will not have gas supply challenges since there is a gas infrastructure with sufficient quantity for both Phase 1 & 2 and other power plants within the region”.

    He reiterated the Governor’s appealto the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, to improve its network and refund the sum of $22million Ibom Power spent on the transmission line connecting Ibom power to the rest of the national grid.

    The MD also called on Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to improve on technical and commercial operations to ensure that the impact of Government investments across the power value chain is felt by AkwaIbom people through the provision of steady power supply.

    He called on the good people of Akwa Ibom State to continue to support Emmanuel’s vision for the industrialisation of the State and making the State a power exporting hub in the federation.

  • Akwa Ibom pays over N2b gratuity debt

    Akwa Ibom pays over N2b gratuity debt

    Akwa Ibom State government has paid pensioners, including teachers and local government workers over  N2billion gratuity debt, the state Commissioner for Finance,  Akan Okon has said.

    Okon who to reporters said the money paid covers debt owed between 2002 and 2011. He said the local government pensioners were paid over N900 million while others were paid over N1.2 billion.

    He stated that the state has set machineries in place to join the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

    He said: “The state has since the ascendance as of Governor Udom Emmanuel, began the process of joining the CPS. Machinery has been set and the House of Assembly is working on the new law to enable us start the CPS. This government is just two months old and I can tell you that we are really working to make sure that we join them and do what other people are doing.

    “This, notwithstanding, we have been able to clear debts owed pensioners in the state. Teachers and other workers gratuity were not paid for years but we have made it our priority.”

    He said the state is seeking ways to improve its infrastructure by accessing the pension fund under the CPS.

    He stressed that pension fund provides long term funds for infrastructural development, which is why they were at the World Pension Summit recently held in Abuja to showcase the state. He added that oofficials of the state were also at the summit with a view to allowing the pension world see what the state has  done in terms of infrastructure. This, according to him, is with a view to accessing the funding from pension fund to continue with ongoing development programmes of the state government.

    Okon noted that part of the challenges  encountered with the pension system the government inherited was the problem of ghost workers. “We have a peculiar problem. People who were not pensioners were found in the system and we had to undergo a biometric programme to make sure that the right people are in the system while the wrong people are removed,” he said.

  • Row over slow pace of work at Ibom seaport

    Row over slow pace of work at Ibom seaport

    A lawmaker and Deputy Chief Whip of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Nse Essien has accused the Federal Government of delaying and politicising the Ibom Deep Seaport project in Mbo Local Government Area of the state.

    Essien, who represents Onna State Constituency, said it was unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to grant the state operational licence to enable it commence work on the deep seaport.

    Speaking in an interview with a section of journalists, in Uyo, the State capital, the lawmaker said the project conceived by former Governor Victor  Attah whose implementation was commenced by the immediate past administration of Chief Godswill Akpabio has the capacity to contribute immensely to the nation’s economy.

    Essien, who is also the House Committee Chairman on Commerce, Industry and Investment, added that the project also has the capacity to create thousands of direct and indirect employment in the maritime and allied sectors.

    He further disclosed that many investors are queuing to invest in the deep seaport but regretted that the envisaged gains of the seaport may not be realisable if the Federal Government and key players in the nation’s maritime sector keep sitting on the project.

    “I’m aware that the governor is very passionate about the Ibom Deep Seaport project and I know that administrative bottlenecks at the federal level are delaying the takeoff of that project. I know the number of investors that are willing to bring their monies to invest in the Ibom Deep seaport. So the problem is not from Akwa Ibom.  It is the federal government that is delaying the takeoff of that project. What I am saying is that the federal government should stop playing politics with Ibom Deep Seaport.

  • Akwa Ibom NUT seeks review of free education

    Akwa Ibom NUT seeks review of free education

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Akwa Ibom State Wing, has criticised the state’s free education policy for not being backed by sufficient funds.

    The NUT Chairman, Mr. Etim Ukpong, who described the scheme as unrealistic, lamented that for more than one academic session head teachers were forced to buy chalk and consumables for science practicals from their salaries.

    Speaking during World Teachers’ Day celebration on Monday, he said: “This situation where for more than one academic session now, head teachers are made to bear the brunt of buying chalk, tend to teachers who fall sick, buy pens for teachers, pay for extra security, bear the costs of science practical, students and pupils participation in inter-school programmed as their peers in private schools, etc from their salaries is not only unrealistic but dishonest and unacceptable.”

    Ukpong also said teachers in primary and post primary schools are sad and angry over unfavourable government policies in the state and may go on strike if their concerns are not addressed.

    Ukpong, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Union Congress (NLC) in the state, said some pending issues the teachers want addressed include non-refund of 71/2 per cent contributory pensions’ deductions in full to all teachers; non-payment of subventions; examination registrations and science practical grants to all school heads; non-payment of 2013 leave allowance to primary school teachers are some of the issues at stake.

    He listed others as non-payment of 2011 promotion arrears to primary school teachers; non-implementation of 2012 promotions for primary school teachers, and non-payment of gratuities to retired primary school teachers for many years.

    Ukpong warned that the growing tension among the teachers might get to a level that the NUT may not be able to control the hungry, frustrated and angry teachers any more.

    “All the teachers, primary and post primary schools are very sad and angry at this situation in the primary school sector. Injury to one is injury to all.  There is intense anger in the land. The growing tension might soon boil,” he said.

     

  • ‘Ibom Power has produced 70 days non-stop’

    ‘Ibom Power has produced 70 days non-stop’

    The Managing Director of Ibom Power Company (IPC), Dr. Victor Udo, has disclosed that the company has been producing for 70 days without downtime.

    The MD spoke with reporters in his office.

    He said: “Ibom power plant has been producing for 70 days without downtime; if the distribution infrastructure in your community is not vandalised, you will have witnessed improved power supply in the last 2 months because Ibom Power has been producing constantly.

    “It is to the credit of Akwa Ibom State that the plant is being operated and maintained daily by our indigenes who have kept the plant running for the last 70 days and counting. We are proud of our accomplishment because in the past the plant was constantly on outage which amounts to revenue loss and insufficient power supply in the State.

    “The installation of a dead bus closure in Ibom Power unit 3 has increased our availability such that Akwa Ibom State becomes an island of power supply when the national grid is down.  The rehabilitation of the Black Start Generator (BSG-1) at unit 2 has saved us N5million monthly and also enabled us to offer ancillary services in Nigeria’s Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).”

    While addressing the prolonged power outage in Ikot Abasi, the MD disclosed that “an approval has been given by IPC Board of Directors to support the restoration of power supply to Ikot Abasi as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)”.

    He added that: “We are collaborating with Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC)  to restore power to the community within a few weeks from now.”

  • Ibom Power MD to engineers: ethics very important

    Ibom Power MD to engineers: ethics very important

    The Managing Director of Ibom Power Company, Dr. Victor Udo, has urged engineers to uphold the ethics of the profession.

    He spoke at the seminar organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) tagged “Infrastructure Decay: A case study of Akwa Ibom State”.

    The MD said: “Engineers ought to be at the vanguard of infrastructure development and management for sustainable development.”

    He urged engineers to “be involved in the technical, financial and public policy aspects of infrastructure development”.

    He added: “If engineers concentrate only on the technical aspect, neglecting the other two, the problem of infrastructure decay will persist. The problem of infrastructure decay cannot be blamed solely on corruption because Engineers also have a role to play.

    “Engineers should take responsibility for infrastructure management by shunning the use of substandard materials for infrastructure projects. Infrastructure decay can be minimised if there is core competency development with private sector involvement. Core competency development includes public policy analysis, financing acumen and the technical aspects of infrastructure development.

    “Private sector involvement can be either through Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) or Build Own and Operate (BOO).”

    The MD concluded that “to curb the problem of infrastructure decay there must be improved management and maintenance culture for sustainable development”.