Reps Pledge Intervention to Revive Abandoned Akwa Ibom Transmission Project

The House of Representatives has announced plans to collaborate with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to resolve funding constraints and community disputes stalling the completion of the 330kV Double Circuit Ikot Ekpene–Ikot Abasi Transmission Line Project in Akwa Ibom State.

The commitment followed an assessment visit to the site by the House Committee on Public Assets. Led by Chairman Ademorin Kuye alongside members Tunji Akinosi, Jaafaru Yakubu, and Patrick Umoh, the delegation inspected the facilities and held discussions with NDPHC officials, project contractors Anita Energy, and local community leaders.

Speaking during the inspection, Kuye explained that the visit formed part of a broader legislative inquiry into abandoned public assets across the country. He noted that the transmission line, abandoned for over six years despite significant public investment, remains a strategic national asset capable of strengthening the national grid and expanding regional electricity access.

Kuye urged the NDPHC to expedite the disbursement of outstanding compensation to local landowners, identifying unpaid claims as a primary barrier to resuming work. He also commended the host communities for safeguarding left-behind equipment, including towers and wiring, during the prolonged suspension.

Community leaders, including Chief Joseph Gall Udo, Village Head of Adiasim Ikot in Essien Udim Local Government Area, appealed for swift action on compensation to enable contractors to return.

Designed under the National Integrated Power Projects scheme, the transmission line aims to evacuate electricity from regional power plants into the national grid. Once completed, the infrastructure is projected to boost power capacity for industrial and domestic consumers across Akwa Ibom and neighboring states.