The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has partnered with Borno State Government to build a gas power plant in Maiduguri. The resort to gas power, followed Boko Haram destruction of three towers of electricity power lines along Damaturu/Maiduguri road on January 25 and March 27, 2021. The destruction of power lines plunged the state into darkness for two months and a half. While announcing the alternative power supply Friday at the Government House, Maiduguri, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari disclosed: “Your Excellency, we are here to join you to resolve the power problem in Borno state, particularly in Maiduguri metropolis and environs. “It’s Mr. President’s cardinal principle to deepen gas consumption in country’s domestic markets,” stating that the easiest road to that is to deliver gas to power and ultimately to individuals and households. “The President has declared this year, the decade of gas,” noting that it will be significant gas entry into the domestic market.” He said there is an opportunity and a challenge to support the state, because of the teething problems of supplying electricity to Maiduguri. On how to establish the gas power plant, he said: “We’re now partners in the value chain and have talked to each other. “It’s possible to establish a dedicated power plant in Maiduguri, which will serve the current needs. The gas plant could potentially supply power to neighbouring countries and cities.”
He said the gas power project, also requires basic infrastructures from Governor Babagana Zulum to complete it. According to him, the infrastructures are required to provide commercial structures to recover costs of power project. While responding, Governor Zulum said: “Today’s event can change the narratives of our state, Borno. “Power is very essential. With it, we can reduce the magnitude of the insurgency; because millions of people are earning their means of livelihoods through the supply of electricity.” He noted that during the recent fuel crises entrepreneurs, as well as market women carry their electric-generating sets to filling stations for fuelling. On how the power towers were destroyed, he said: “The insurgents came and destroyed our energy distribution lines,” adding that it plunged the state into darkness for two months and a half. Continuing, he added: “When the power was restored, we have seen the joy from the people of the state. According to him, the jubilation of people over restoration of electricity, entails the importance of power to households and local economy. He said that 48 hours after the restoration electricity; the power lines were also destroyed on March 27, 2021. He noted that it is difficult to continue protect the 132-kilometre Damaturu/Maiduguri power lines to the city. He suggested that the existing Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) power facilities be linked to the NNPC gas power plant. He therefore urged representative of Greenville and Kyari to sustain the supply of gas to proposed Maiduguri power project. Insurgency, according to him, is mainly caused by poverty and unemployment among youths. “Boko Haram insurgency in the state entails reducing it in the northeast and nation,” noting that what could change the narrative is the supply of power to the state.
