Leon Usigbe
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project, which he described as a testament towards achieving stable, uninterrupted power supply aimed at improving the economy and lives of Nigerians.
He performed the ceremony during a visit to the Borno State capital on Thursday, saying that his administration has worked hard to fulfill the promise of tackling the nation’s electricity challenges and has succeeded in laying the foundation for a strong, prosperous country through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) constructed the gas plant to supply 50 megawatts of electricity to Maiduguri and environs.
According to Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), the President noted that a key execution priority of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) is ensuring national energy sufficiency for Nigerians.
The statement quoted him as saying: ”The Maiduguri Emergency Power Project is part of an incremental 4,000MW of power generating assets that this administration embarked upon to improve national power supply and stimulate economic growth.
”The aggressive project strategy deployed to complete this project on schedule is a total reflection of Federal Government sensitivities in identifying and easing the plight of the Nigerians; particularly those recovering from the adverse impact of the insurgency in this North-East region.
”Over the past few years, insurgents had attacked power supply lines along Maiduguri-Damaturu and Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu roads leading to acute power supply shortages to Maiduguri and its environs and crippling the economic activities in the region.
”For this purposeful response, I want to commend the NNPC Ltd for following my directive to ensure the immediate restoration of reliable power supply to Maiduguri within the shortest possible time.”
President Buhari reassured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s resolve to implement programmes, particularly in the power sector, that deepen domestic gas utilization, expand national power generation capacity, revitalizes industries and creates multiple jobs for economic growth.
He directed the Ministry of Power and other relevant Agencies, namely, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, Transmission Company of Nigeria to continue to collaborate with NNPC Ltd to ensure that millions of Nigerians access affordable electricity in the short term.
Buhari expressed confidence that the undaunting spirit of the New NNPC Ltd would continue to engender affordable energy for all Nigerians, not just for the immediate but for the years ahead.
President Buhari thanked the governor of the state, Prof Babagana Zulum, for keeping his campaign promises to the people of the state.
He declared that the governor, seeking a second term in office, deserves to be re-elected, adding: ”Your Excellency, I cannot remember the number of projects I commissioned during your first tenure, these laudable projects are impressive. I thank you.
”We also acknowledge your excellent work, working closely with the Federal Government and other stakeholders, to bring back the IDPs and refugees from Cameroon and other neighboring countries. I think the Governor deserves another term.”
The statement informed that while in Maiduguri, the President inaugurated the dualized Ahmadu Bello Way; Shehu Sanda Kura Road; Lafiya Road and Mogoram Road; Ultra-Modern Market, Bama Road; newly constructed Staff Quarters for the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu Cancer Centre, and the newly constructed Bolari Market Road.
