Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has secured a commitment from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to resume oil exploration activities in the state, while expressing concern over delays in upgrading the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant.

Zulum disclosed this on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the NNPCL management, led by the Chairman of the Board, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, in Maiduguri.

The meeting focused on energy development, the resumption of oil exploration in the Borno Basin and the completion of the emergency power plant upgrade.

Speaking during the meeting, the governor highlighted the strategic importance of resuming oil exploration in Borno, noting that the state has significant commercial potential and shares borders with three countries.

He expressed optimism that renewed exploration activities by the national oil company would help unlock the state’s hydrocarbon resources, attract investment and stimulate economic development.
Zulum said the resumption of exploration would be an important step towards harnessing Borno’s natural resources and expanding its economic opportunities.

However, the governor expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work on the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, which is expected to improve electricity supply in the state.

He said the project remained incomplete despite the necessary materials having been available at the site for about two years.

The governor urged the NNPCL management to intervene and address the challenges delaying the upgrade, stressing that the facility was critical to improving electricity supply and supporting the socio-economic activities of residents in Maiduguri and its environs.

He called for the timely completion of the project, noting the importance of reliable power supply to households, businesses and other economic activities.

Responding, Kida assured the governor of the company’s readiness to accelerate efforts towards resuming oil exploration in the Borno Basin.

He also pledged that the company would work to address the bottlenecks hindering the completion of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant upgrade.

Kida commended Zulum for his continued support and for creating an enabling environment for investment in the state.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur; Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani; Acting Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe; and other senior government officials.

The NNPCL delegation included Udy Ntia, Executive Vice President, Upstream, and Olalekon Ogunleye, Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, among other officials.