It was fanfare and relief as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, inaugurated a 330KV power switching station in Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom.
The minister, at Ikot Inyang village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, said that the switch on of the station would boost electricity supply in the country.
It would be recalled that the contract for the project was awarded since 2006, but was delayed due to challenges.
However, the intervention of the National Assembly, resolved the contending issues for the completion of the project.
According to the minister, the station was expected to evacuate electricity from power plants in Alaoji, Afam, Calabar and Ikot Abasi and route same to Ugwuaji in Enugu up to Jos.
Fashola said that the development would solve the problem of stranded power as the generating plants would have their power evacuated for use.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr Chiedu Ugbo, who was at the inauguration, noted that the new management of NDPHC was committed to ensuring improved power generation, saying that the switching of the station on would mark the end of epileptic power supply.
He expressed gratitude to Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and his predecessor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and the host community for providing conducive environment for the completion of the project.
