Aniefiok Christopher
After years of living in darkness, some communities in Ukanafun and Oruk Anam communities in Akwa Ibom State are witnessing return to electricity following test run of transformers donated to them.
The House of Representatives member for the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Dr Unyime Idem, who had vowed to restore light to the people, donated 25 units of 500 KVA transformers to 25 wards in Ukanafun and in Oruk Anam.
For Ukanafun, residents of the area stayed 15 years without electricity supply and the residents wallowed in blackout.
Already, the first phase of the project is completed and ready for commissioning, which is in fulfillment of the promise Idem made to rehabilitate and restore electricity to the federal constituency.
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Breaking the news this Friday, he said “For quality assurance, test-run is ongoing in few communities covered in the first phase, to ensure safety, reliability, and functionality before the system goes fully operational. This process is also necessary to detect installation faults, verification of performance, prevent costly rework, ensure regulatory compliance and smooth handover.’’
According to him, ‘‘The test-run follows successful pole planting, cabling, installation of transformers and other power infrastructure in communities covered in the first phase. ‘’
Recall that in January this year, Idem donated 25 units of 500 kva transformers to the 24 wards of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, assuring to rehabilitate the power infrastructure and link the Federal Constituency to the national grid.
‘‘Specifically, Ikot Akpa Nkuk and Ikot Ibritam communities in Ukanafun and Oruk Anam LGAs respectively have been linked to the national grid from Ikot Abasi.
‘‘Although linking to the national grid through Ikot Abasi has doubled the budget for the project, I have borne the cost, committing to ensuring quality and durable power supply to the people,’’ the Ukanafun-born parliamentarian announced.
‘‘Oruk Anam Ward 1 has taken delivery of its 500 kva transformer. Elders of the Ward picked up the transformer from Ukanafun Divisional Police Headquarters, where the transformers were kept for safety.
‘‘Also, elders of Ukanafun Ward 1 took delivery of theirs, which has already been installed at the Council headquarters, Ikot Akpa Nkuk, and linked to the grid.
‘‘While some wards have taken delivery of their transformers, the others left will pick up theirs as soon as installation of power infrastructure reaches their domains.
‘‘Let me use this opportunity to assure my constituents that commissioning of the first phase of the project will take place as soon as test-run is completed, while the second phase of the project will commence afterwards.
‘‘Kindly note that the project is executed in phases, therefore, wards not covered in the first phase should exercise patience, as all the 24 wards will ultimately be linked to the national grid,’’ Dr. Idem added.
Straightnews gathered that those who fled Ukanafun and Oruk Anam as a result of the years of blackout, will begin to return home while small and medium business that had either died or were on life support would return to life.
In Ukanafun, the situation was worsened by the insecurity that bedeviled the area that resulted in exodus of people to neighbouring villages while others jetted to Uyo, Port Harcourt and Aba, among other in search of better pastures powered by electricity.
Again, the social life that had ebbed would return to normalcy as a result of electricity.
