By: Hamza Suleiman
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N68 billion operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).
Zulum gave the commendation in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, in Maiduguri on Thursday.
He described the approval as a timely intervention that would address energy challenges, enhance economic activities, and strengthen security in the state.
The governor said the approval covers a monthly operational expenditure (OPEX) support of N2 billion from March 2026 to December 2028, aimed at bridging funding gaps in the operation of the power plant.
“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to most profoundly appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N2 billion monthly OPEX intervention funding, totalling N68 billion, to support the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant,” Zulum said.
He recalled that the MEPP project, initiated in 2021 as a presidential intervention, was designed to address prolonged power outages caused by insurgents who vandalised electricity infrastructure, leaving the state without supply for nearly two years.
Zulum noted that the intervention by the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), had been instrumental in restoring electricity to Maiduguri and its environs.
According to him, the 50MW power plant, commissioned in December 2023, has significantly boosted socio-economic development, created jobs, and supported small and medium enterprises across the state.
He added that improved electricity supply had also contributed to enhanced security by reducing vulnerabilities associated with poverty and unemployment.
The governor expressed optimism that the latest approval would ensure sustainable power supply, strengthen economic resilience, and consolidate peace and stability in the state.
Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to continued collaboration with the Federal Government to achieve sustainable development in the energy sector and lasting peace in Borno.(NAN)
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