There is remarkable improvement in the social and economic lives of Akwa Ibom people, especially residents of Uyo metropolis as Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel has significantly and positively affected it.
The governor in keeping with his campaign promise to industrialise the state recently commissioned life changing projects including an electricity sub-station, a modern 3311KV, 2X15 MVA electricity injection substation located at Nsikak Edouk Avenue.
The fanfare that trailed the commissioning has waned but the impact of the project has started showing in the socio-economic lives of the people of the state.
This significant lift cuts across all sectors of the people’s lives as small industries and other small businesses have started picking up again.
Our correspondent who monitored the developments in Uyo metropolis reports that about 70 per cent of businesses that had folded up have started counting gains of an almost steady power supply.
Even small scale business operators who could merely open door for business have been showing signs of economic recovery.
A manager of popular table water in Uyo, Mrs. Ekama Effiong, described the commissioning of the electricity sub-station by Governor Udom Emmanuel as big boost to business operators in the state.
She said adequate electricity supply had been a nightmare that had negatively impacted on her factory, leading to great losses in the past.
She said: “In fact the news of the commissioning is a big boost, even though electricity supply is not regular yet as expected, it is better than before.
“I have personally suffered in this business as a result of inadequate power supply and I will not advise anybody to go into any business at all when there is no adequate power supply.
“I lost almost all my staffs because I was unable to pay them, but I want to thank Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, for keeping to his promise,” she said.
What impressed her counterpart, Mrs. Esther Udauk who runs a restaurant and a beer parlour business is that her customers who had initially been complaining of not enjoying chilled drinks have started coming back.
“I thank God that things are changing for the better because it is not easy for us in this business because of the problem of power supply. You cannot serve hot drinks to people and we were praying for something like this to come.”
She expressed appreciation to the governor for the initiative and encouraged him to sustain it.
Those in the hospitality industries are also counting their gains as the era of frequent purchase and maintenance of generators has become a thing of the past.
The proprietor of a hotel, Mr. Moses Etuk, was full of praises for the governor for taking the bold step to fulfil his promises to the people in the area of electricity supply.
“I want to thank first and foremost Governor Udom Gabriel for promising and going ahead to fulfil his promises; it is one thing to make a promise and another to fulfil it. Governor Udom Gabriel has tried and we need to appreciate him, even though what he has done is not enough.”
Speaking on his past experiences as Etuk said, “it was not easy for me to run this business without adequate power supply, there was just no gain but i have to press further because there is not other business I could do better than running a hotel business.”
The General Manger of a company, Mr. Bassey Friday, who spoke with The Next Edition expressed appreciation to the Governor.
His words: “We have been running on diesel only and you can imagine what that means to a young factory like ours. We are not connected to power source for now.
‘’But we appreciate the efforts of Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel for this new imitative to boost electricity supply in the state, this has affected us positively.”
Governor Emmanuel had while commissioning the substation said, “our duty will be to put Akwa Ibom State in full industrialisation. You cannot talk about industrialisation if you don’t give power to the people, you must create an enabling environment.”
Mr. Emmanuel said his administration started by restoring power in some parts of Ini and Okobo local government areas where there was no light for several years.
He added that Ikot Abasi which was the main town would soon be visited with light.
