Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum, has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving N68bn in operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant.
The 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 power for nearly two years.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor described the Federal Government’s intervention under Tinubu’s leadership as timely, noting that it would help mitigate security challenges and improve the economic well-being of residents.
“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to most profoundly appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for approving N2bn monthly operational expenditure funding from March 2026 to December 2028, totalling N68bn to bridge the existing funding gap in the operations of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).
“The MEPP intervention by the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has been pivotal in restoring power supply to Borno State.
“This has not only revived economic activities but has also significantly improved livelihoods and strengthened efforts to address security challenges,” Zulum said.
The governor noted that the power plant, commissioned in 2021 and upgraded to 50 megawatts in December 2023, has driven socio-economic development, created employment opportunities and supported small and medium-scale enterprises across the state.
He added that improved electricity supply has enhanced security by strengthening economic resilience and reducing vulnerabilities associated with insurgency and criminal activities.
The governor further stated that the presidential approval would ensure a sustainable power supply to Maiduguri and the surrounding areas, reinforcing the state’s resilience.
Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with the Federal Government to promote sustainable development in the energy sector and ensure lasting peace and stability in the state.