The State-owned power provider Ibom Power Limited and its gas supplier, Accugas Limited, a Savannah Energy subsidiary, have been exchanging blame over the cause of the four-day power outage in Akwa Ibom.

Engr. Meyen Etukudoh, the former managing director of Ibom Power Company (IPC), had blamed the state’s blackout on Accugas’ failure to supply gas to the power company due to debt repayment.

In a statement, Etukudoh charged that Accugas intentionally refused to give gas to Ibom Power and was determined to settle any disagreements during talks, emphasizing that Accugas intended to undermine the State government’s efforts.

The Akwa Ibom State administration, via Prince Enobong Uwah, the Secretary to the State administration, sent Etukudoh a letter of dismissal shortly after his outburst, but it did not specify why.

Since then, the dismissal has caused a great deal of controversy in the state. Some have called it premature and a victimization of the MD for expressing his frustrations, while others have said it was appropriate because the MD’s statement was intended to embarrass the governor and expose the state’s debt situation to Accugas.

According to information obtained, Savannah has subsequently restored gas supplies to Ibom Power after it was temporarily cut off due to nonpayment; nevertheless, the plants were in too poor condition to be restarted.

In a statement, Savannah Energy retaliated against Ibom Power, stating that “the power cut in Akwa Ibom State is entirely due to the reported fault in the 132 KVA Aba-Itu Transmission Line,” which it claimed was preventing power from being transmitted into the state from the National Grid.

“Accugas Limited, a subsidiary of Savannah Energy, wishes to strongly deny the misinformation regarding its alleged involvement in the current power outage in Akwa Ibom State,” said Okwudili Onyia, Accugas’ communications manager.

“The reported fault in the 132-KV Aba-Itu transmission line is the sole cause of the power outage in Akwa Ibom State. Regrettably, this fault is preventing power from being transmitted from the National Grid into the State.”

“Accugas has been IPC’s only gas supplier in Akwa Ibom State since 2014, and the company, along with other Savannah subsidiaries, has invested more than US$1.5 billion in gas development in the state.”

Akwa Ibom’s power has been restored as of the report’s filing date.