From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
•One of the newly constructed power plants in Calabar
Despite playing host to multi billion naira investments in power generation by both federal and state governments, communities across Cross River State remain enveloped in darkness.
Cross River State plays host to the Odukpani power plant with capacity of generating over 550 mega watts as well as two power plants in Calabar with a combined capacity of at least 50 mega watts.
The state owned plants located at Parliamentary Extension and Tinapa were expected to upscale power supply and boost the economy of the state.
However, this has not been as most communities within the state have remained in darkness for decades.
Outside Calabar municipality and Calabar South, numerous communities across the remaining 16 local government areas have remained in perpetual darkness.
Some of the communities which are permanently disconnected from public power supply include Ifunkpa, Biakpan, Ekang, Esighi, Usung Urua and most villages of Umon in Biase local government area.
Others like Bemba, Beebo, Bumaji, Ashishie, Bendeghe Ekiem, Akparabong farm (Ewowor Newport farm settlement), Ekimkai, Adijinkpo, Abia, Agbokim, Alankel, Ekegongo, Ndarr, Mbarenkul, Motal, Egul and Ashika have never had a taste of electricity.
Of particular note is the case of Bekwarra where locals say for over a decade, electricity has been like an alien to them.
This paucity of electricity has crippled businesses and made life completely unbearable.
Obon Ita Okon, the Chairman of the Okoyong Traditional Rulers Council said for almost a decade, the people of Ifako have been living in darkness.
He added that they only see light when they are outside their community and the situation is very distressing.
Obon Okon said: “It is very disturbing that we have been cut off from the national grid for more than ten years now.
“We have been living in darkness and only see electricity when we travel out of our community.
“This is very distressing and we have endured it for too long.”
“In Bendeghe Ekiem, for eight years now, there has been no light,” Peter Agbor, a resident of Ikom said.
“Power supply has been permanently disconnected in our communities in the central senatorial district.
“Because power has not been supplied, vandals took advantage of this and looted some cables.
“Abia community has never had light from time immemorial, no PHCN connection. The same goes for Agbokim and most wards in Etung has been in darkness for over ten years,”, he said.
In the north senatorial district, Ogbeche Ogar, a resident said Bekwarra has not had light for over a decade, starting from the time of former governor Liyel Imoke.
“Economic activities cannot be viable because people who need electricity cannot function. It’s like we are in the dark ages, it’s very pitiable and alarming.
“We have been complaining and nothing happened. A local government area of 10 wards has no light, it’s very sad,” he said.
However, Governor Bassey Otu has offered some hope to these communities. Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Mallam Abba Aliu, he said his administration was ready to meet the counterpart-funding requirements of the agency to provide mini-grid power supply to rural communities.
This move is aimed at boosting the micro-economy of the state and improving productivity levels, especially in the agricultural and rural communities.
Similarly, the government had earlier commissioned a team from its electrification agency to undertake a statewide tour to assess the level of intervention required to give light to its communities.