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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The lawmaker representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the approval of ₦68 billion operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP), describing the move as timely and critical to the state’s economic and security recovery.
The emergency power project was initiated in 2021 as a presidential intervention following the destruction of electricity infrastructure by insurgents, which plunged Maiduguri into nearly two years of blackout.
The approved fund is to be disbursed in phases, with a monthly operational expenditure of ₦2 billion from March 2026 to December 2028, bringing the total intervention to ₦68 billion aimed at sustaining operations and closing the plant’s funding gap.
Ndume, in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for what he described as a long-awaited response to the plight of residents who have endured prolonged power outages.
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He said the restoration of electricity would significantly boost economic activities, particularly among small and medium-scale enterprises, which form the backbone of Borno’s informal sector.
The senator also linked improved power supply to ongoing security efforts, noting that insurgents often exploit darkness to carry out attacks.
“I join the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, and other well-meaning citizens in expressing profound gratitude to President Tinubu for this intervention,” he said.
According to him, the funding support to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant would serve as a lifeline capable of stimulating economic growth and reducing vulnerability among idle youths.
“When the informal sector thrives, government would have succeeded in cutting off a major recruitment stream for terrorists,” Ndume stated, adding that stable electricity would also enhance military operations in the fight against insurgency.
While applauding the intervention, the former Senate Leader called for vigilance among citizens and security agencies to protect power infrastructure from further attacks and vandalism.
“It is to the credit of the Federal Government that it responded promptly to our concerns,” he added.
“We must all take responsibility for safeguarding these facilities, as the benefits of stable electricity are far-reaching, from improved livelihoods to strengthened security.”
