Residents of Ikot Nte village in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have decried a prolonged power outage that has left the community in darkness for nearly two decades. The village, which is the hometown of Nigerian international footballer William Troost-Ekong and renowned academic Ufot Ekong, has been without electricity for 19 years, severely impacting businesses and social activities.
The Village Head, Chief Joshua Amos, expressed frustration over the situation, stating that the community has been neglected by the Akwa Ibom State government. “This is the 19th year we have been without power, and it appears that the government is indifferent to our plight,” Amos lamented. He revealed that Ikot Nte had only enjoyed two months of electricity before the supply was completely cut off.
In addition to the power crisis, Amos highlighted other pressing issues, including the dilapidated state of buildings and staff quarters at the Community Secondary School in Ikot Nte, as well as the poor condition of the Ikot Obio Eka-Ikot Ibok-Ikot Nte-Mbioto Road, which leads to the General Hospital in Mbioto.
Despite these challenges, the village head praised the efforts of Ikot Nte indigenes in the diaspora, particularly the Ikot Nte USA World Forum, for funding critical projects such as borehole water facilities, solar-powered streetlights, and road grading. “Our sons and daughters abroad have made it possible for us to live with some dignity. They have continued to support us despite the government’s neglect, and we will keep praying for them,” Amos said.
Jonathan Abasiubong, a community project coordinator, traced the blackout to the failure of the community’s transformer, which broke down shortly after it was commissioned by former Governor Victor Attah on February 24, 2006.
The prolonged power outage has left residents frustrated and calling for urgent intervention from the government to restore electricity and address other infrastructural challenges in the community.
