Segregation In Power Distribution Fuels Anger In Ikot Abasi

By Matts Udoaka

The alleged segregation adopted in the power distribution in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, on Monday the 22^nd of October brought a sudden standstill in business in the local government area. The worst hit was the Rusal/Alscon and Aquacem whose staffers couldn’t be conveyed to the factory.
Following the segregation in power distribution in that local government, youths of some of the affected communities staged a blockade on the only major high way to Ikot Abasi urban, the only source of movement that leads to Aluminium Smelter Plant of Nigeria.
A source told this paper that there has been  widespread segregation in the distribution of amenities accruing from the multi-billion naira aluminium company right from inception in 1991. The source said of the two staff quarters built for the workers, the one decently built with all the facilities are occupied by the white workers, whereas the poorly built ones with no amenities called ‘soweto’ are occupied by the black workers.
The source continued that in Ikot Abasi the joy of having value from the derivatives of the gigantic multi-billion naira project cited in that local government was eluding some communities in the local government area. Rusal/Alscon is believed to be having five gigantic gas turbine that are capable of supplying light to all the communities in Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin. But due to what could be considered as nonchalance on the part of RUSAL, the company that won the privatization bid only accepted to supply one tenth of the power to only the immediate communities in Ikot Abasi leaving a large segment of other communities to remain in the dark. As this system continues relentlessly, it was gathered that the youths of Ette and Ikot Akan communities decided to press on their demand for power by blockading the main highway to Ikot Abasi.


Having succeeded to hold everyone to ransom for three days the military at the army battalion Ibagwa were drafted to scuttle the youths’ further action. The source continued that many of the youth leaders were arrested from the two communities but  were released the next day.

Meanwhile, the local government council met with the elders of the local government with no communiqué issued on the matter.

New communities like Esene, Ette, Ikot Akan, Okon and Edem Aya clans are said to be without light and access roads, whereas two of the above communities have produced  the two Deputy Governors of the State in this dispensation.
As at the time of going to press, it was not possible to have words from the public relations boss of RULSAL ALSCON.