Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N68 billion operational supports for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).
The emergency plant project, initiated in 2021 as a presidential intervention, was a critical response to the prolonged power outage caused by insurgents who vandalised power infrastructure, leaving the state without electricity for nearly two years.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, Zulum said the swift intervention by the Federal Government is not only timely but will also mitigate security challenges and improve the economic livelihoods of the people of Borno State.
“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to most profoundly appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for approving N2 billion monthly OPEX intervention funding from March 2026 to December 2028, totalling N68 billion to bridge the existing funding gap in the operations of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP),” Zulum stated.
He noted that the MEPP intervention by the Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has been pivotal in restoring power supply to Borno State.
Governor Zulum added that the power plant, commissioned in 2021 and upgraded to 50MW in December 2023, has catalysed socio-economic development, created employment opportunities, and supported small and medium 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.
