Zulum hails Tinubu over N68bn boost for Maiduguri emergency power plant

Politics

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (NPA) — Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N68 billion in operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).

The project, initiated in 2021 as a presidential intervention, was designed to address the prolonged blackout in the state following the destruction of power infrastructure by insurgents, which left Borno without electricity for nearly two years.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum described the Federal Government’s intervention as timely, noting that it would help mitigate security challenges while boosting economic activities and livelihoods across the state.

“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to profoundly appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for approving N2 billion monthly operational expenditure from March 2026 to December 2028, amounting to N68 billion, to bridge the funding gap in the operations of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant,” the governor said.

He noted that the intervention, implemented through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, has been instrumental in restoring electricity supply to the state.

According to the governor, the 50-megawatt power plant, commissioned in December 2023, has stimulated socio-economic growth, created jobs, and supported small and medium-scale enterprises across Borno.

Zulum added that improved access to electricity has also strengthened security by enhancing economic opportunities and reducing vulnerabilities linked to insurgency and criminal activities.

He expressed confidence that the latest presidential approval would ensure sustainable power supply to Maiduguri and surrounding communities, further reinforcing the state’s resilience.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with the Federal Government to promote sustainable energy development and lasting peace in the state.