NNPC’s solar plant game changer for Borno – Zulum

Backs oil exploration resumption

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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has said the solar power plant project being undertaken in the state by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) will be a game changer in energy supply when completed.

Zulum made this known on Wednesday in Maiduguri when the board and management of the NNPCL paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House.

He said the current power supply to the state from the national grid and the Maiduguri Emergency Gas Plant was not sustainable. He urged the corporation to start and complete the project in record time.

“This will be a game changer because what we have now is not sustainable,” he declared.

He said he had approved the release of 145 hectares of land for the project and had directed the Commissioner for Works to waive the N10 million expected to be paid by the corporation to the Borno government. He explained that the waiver was necessary to accelerate the take-off of the project.

The governor commended the NNPCL for its interventions in the state. He assured the management of the government’s readiness to provide security for the resumption of oil exploration activities in the state.

He said exploration in the state was not halted because of insecurity, noting that a large number of security personnel had been deployed to the sites before works were suspended.

“I assure you of the government’s readiness to provide security for the continuation of the exploration,” Zulum said, adding that the state government was surprised to learn of the suspension of work at the sites.

He said the state would partner with the NNPCL to ensure the resumption of works at the sites.

Earlier, the Board Chairman of the NNPCL, Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida, said the visit was to show respect to the government and people of Borno and to brief the state on the company’s activities.

“In NNPC, we do believe we are holding forth for the Nigerian people. NNPC has become what it ought to be, that is truly a limited liability company,” Kida said.

He listed the company’s focus areas in Borno to include upstream expansion and the resumption of oil prospecting, as well as gas and renewable energy projects.

He said the company was seeking community ownership of the crude oil prospecting, which would resume soon, and would work closely with security agencies.

Kida thanked the governor for approving 145 hectares of land for the solar plant project.