FG boosts electricity supply to Borno

TWENTY four hours after reconnecting Borno State to the national grid, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to link the state with two more sources of electricity supply vandalized last June by Boko Haram insurgents along the Maiduguri-Damboa road.

  This was made known Thursday in Maiduguri by the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, while addressing Borno youths and women groups on the forthcoming presidential campaign rally in the state capital.

 His words: “I want to inform our people that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the opening of two other new sources of power supply to Borno State. We have complied with this presidential directive and in due course, Borno will have three sources of power supply.”

 The Minister quoted the President as directing the completion of ongoing federal power projects in the state, increasing alternative means of supplying electricity to Borno State, and reducing incidences of vandalism to the barest level.

 Wakil said that in line with the Presidential directives, TCN has already been directed to hasten the pace of work on the 330/132/332 KVA substation in Damaturu that is adequate in supplying electricity to both Yobe and Borno states.

On the import of alternative sources of electricity, he said: “Borno State will then get three sources of power- namely the 132 KVA Gombe – Biu – Damboa – Maiduguri line, the 330 KVA new substations on Damboa road in Maiduguri and the Damaturu 330/132/33 KVA which should be completed as quickly as possible.

“The era of only one line connecting the state to national grid is over. We must ensure at least three lines of connections to prevent future sabotage and vandalism.”