UYO - The Akwa Ibom State Assembly has authorised the state government to invest 195 million dollars (about N23 billion) in the National Emergency Power Project.
The House also authorised the 31 local government councils in the state to invest 34 million dollars (about N4 billion) in the same project.
The authorisation followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the House Leader, Mr. Jerome Isangedighi, and two other members, Messrs Samuel Ikon and Uwem Udoma.
Members who spoke in support of the motion noted that the state government’s contribution to the National Emergency Power Project was a necessary sacrifice to improve the epileptic power situation in the country.
They said the state’s contribution would be drawn from its share of excess crude account.
The lawmakers also said the amount to be invested would be recovered by the state and local governments upon completion and subsequent privatisation of the power project.
They said whereas the state’s plant could only generate electricity, the National Emergency Power Project, if implemented, could make the state not only to generate electricity, but distribute and transmit
Opposing the motion, Mr. Usen Akpabio, and Chief Asuquo Udoh, said it was better to channel the state’s funds to the state- owned Independent Power Project in Ikot Abasi.
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