Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has laid the foundation for a 50MW power project in Maiduguri, the state capital. The sitting of the gas turbine power project was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari directive to provide an ‘emergency power supply’ by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony on Thursday in Maiduguri, Zulum said that the initiative of the NNPC will impact positively on people’s living conditions, despite the 12-year Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
“The timing of this project is appropriate; considering the nine-month power outages being experienced in Maiduguri and its environs,” he said. He said that the destruction of ten 330 and 33KVA high-tension towers by the insurgents; has plunged the entire state into darkness since January, 2021. Besides, the Governor lamented that with the destruction of power lines, it crippled economic activities, including the collapse of small and medium scale businesses.
He noted that all efforts of the Federal and State Governments to restore electricity however; proved abortive; as the terrorists further destroyed four additional power towers. According to him, this called for an immediate intervention to protect businesses from collapsing. He said that the sitting of the gas power project in the Maiduguri metropolis could restore the local economy for future prospects. While appreciating the efforts of the Federal Government and NNPC, he said: “The State Government will do everything to ensure security of lives and property; not only for the power project, but for all residents.”
He therefore urged the NNPC and other partners to complete the power project according to the terms of contracts. The Governor warned that the State Government will do everything possible to deal with anyone that sabotages NNPC’s initiatives. Speaking on the importance of electricity, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari said that once there is no power or electricity; there would be no socioeconomic prosperity. “And we know that we have a huge problem of getting electricity into Maiduguri and its environs,” he said; stating that it’s a common practice to have regular supply of electricity near the consumers.
He therefore suggested that the Maiduguri example will serve as a model to other cities in the country. On the completion of the project, he said: “Your Excellency, I can confirm to you that we’ve placed orders for the turbines,” assuring that they are to be delivered in October. The NNPC’s Executive Director, Abdul Kabir Ahmed also solicited the support of the State Government for security and logistics to complete the project in six months. He said that the oil firm will not leave any stone unturned to comply with Buhari’s directive being carried out in the state.
