Zulum lays foundation for 50MW Maiduguri power project

3Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has laid the foundation for 50 megawatts Maiduguri and Environs Emergency Power Project (MEPP).

The siting of the gas turbine power project was in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for an “emergency power supply” by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), according to the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Mele Kyari.

With the destruction of power infrastructure by insurgents in Maiduguri and environs, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reportedly lost N1.7 billion in nine months.

Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, yesterday, in Maiduguri, the governor said the NNPC initiative would impact positively people’s lives, despite the 12-year Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

“The timing of this project is appropriate; considering the nine-month power outage being experienced in Maiduguri and environs,” he said.

According to him, the destruction of ten 330 and 33KVA high-tension towers by the insurgents plunged the state into the darkness since January.

Besides, Zulum lamented that the destruction of power lines crippled economic activities, including small and medium scale businesses.

Executive Director of NNPC, AbdulKabir Ahmed, also solicited the support of the state government for security and logistics to complete the project in six months.

He added that the oil firm would not leave any stone unturned in complying with Buhari’s directive in the state.

Kyari assured the governor and the people of Maiduguri that the project would be delivered on schedule.

He said the project would further improve NNPC’s gas utilisation efforts for the socio-economic benefit of Nigerians.

“NNPC as an enabler organisation is committed to the delivery of this project within schedule and has already awarded the contract to General Electric Global (GE) for the supply of gas turbine, while Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) has been contracted to China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC),” Kyari stated.