…as 1st Phase of Electricity Project Nears Commissioning
RismadarVoice Reporters, April 3, 2026
The member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Unyime Idem, has fulfilled his promise to restore electricity to parts of Ukanafun after more than 15 years of power outage, with the first phase of a major electricity rehabilitation project now completed and ready for commissioning.
Officials overseeing the project said a test-run is currently ongoing in some of the communities covered under the first phase to ensure the safety, reliability and functionality of the power infrastructure before it becomes fully operational.
The test-run, according to project handlers, is aimed at detecting possible installation faults, verifying performance, ensuring regulatory compliance and preventing costly rework before the system is formally handed over for public use.
The development follows the successful completion of key installations, including pole planting, cabling and the installation of transformers and other power infrastructure in the benefiting communities.
In January 2026, Rep. Idem, who also serves as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, donated 25 units of 500 KVA transformers distributed across the 24 wards of the constituency as part of deliberate efforts to address the longstanding electricity challenge in the area.
He had at the time assured residents that the power infrastructure in the constituency would be rehabilitated and communities reconnected to the national grid.
As part of the first phase of the project, Ikot Akpa Nkuk in Ukanafun Local Government Area and Ikot Ibritam in Oruk Anam Local Government Area have now been linked to the national grid through Ikot Abasi.
Project sources said connecting the communities through Ikot Abasi increased the overall cost of the project, but Rep. Idem opted to bear the additional cost in order to guarantee a more reliable, durable electricity supply for the people.
Meanwhile, Oruk Anam Ward 1 has taken delivery of its 500 KVA transformer, with elders of the ward collecting the equipment from the Ukanafun Divisional Police Headquarters where the transformers had been kept for security reasons.
Similarly, elders of Ukanafun Ward 1 have also taken delivery of their transformer, which has already been installed at the council headquarters in Ikot Akpa Nkuk and connected to the national grid.
Authorities said while some wards have already received their transformers, others will take delivery as installation of power infrastructure progresses to their communities.
Rep. Idem assured constituents that the first phase of the project will be commissioned once the ongoing test-run is completed, adding that the second phase of the electricity rehabilitation project will commence shortly afterwards.
He also urged residents of wards not covered in the first phase to remain patient, noting that the project is being executed in phases and that all 24 wards in the constituency will ultimately be connected to the national grid.
