The Federal government is to establish a dedicated gas plant to address lingering power in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mal. Mele Kyari has said that the corporation will partner with Borno State Government to establish a Gas Power Plant following the vandalization of the national grid by insurgents which put the state almost three months into total blackout.
Kyari who led a powerful delegation on a courtesy call on Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Friday said, the Federal Government will not fold its arms and neglect the state which is been ravaged by insurgents, especially cut off from the national grid, as power is a source of income to the teaming people of the state.
Maiduguri and environs had in the last seven years experienced series of power outages due to vandalism and incessant attacks on power installations by the insurgents.
In January this year, electricity supply was interrupted following damages on transmission towers along Maiduguri-Damaturu lines plunging the city and environs into darkness.
The continued loss of power supply has adversely affected small and medium scale businesses and other socio-economic activities.
Group Managing Director of NNPC Mal. Mele Kyari said the Corporation will leverage on existing power infrastructure to deliver the plant in the next four months.
In an effort to address this lingering problem, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and partners in the gas supply value chain have concluded a plan to set up a gas plant to serve the energy needs of the people of Maiduguri and other neighboring states.
“We are seeing a very short time frame and we think that between three and four months we should be able to put up a power plant in this town that will serve Borno. And I have the confidence of all of us, the gas suppliers, the potential supplier of the power plant itself and also the distribution company to make sure this thing works, we are counting on your help and support to make sure we deliver”.
Mal. Mele Kyari explained that the project is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s cardinal principle of deepening gas consumption in the domestic market across the country.
Borno state Governor Professor Babagana Zulum appreciated the NNPC and its subsidiaries for always identifying with the state during trying moments.
He explained that the provision of sustainable energy is critical to addressing insurgency and other criminal activity in the region.
Governor Zulum promised to provide all the needed support and cooperation to see to the realisation of the project.
