BY ABDULKADIR M. LAWAN, APRIL 23, 2026 | 03:01 PM
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N68 billion in operational funding for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).
The approval covers N2 billion monthly operational expenditure from March 2026 to December 2028, aimed at closing the funding gap in running the 50MW gas plant.
In a statement released by his spokesman, Mal. Dauda Iliya, the governor described the intervention as timely and critical for tackling security challenges and improving livelihoods in Borno State.
'On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to most profoundly appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for approving N2 billion monthly OPEX intervention funding from March 2026 to December 2028, totaling N68 billion to bridge the existing funding gap in the operations of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant,' he said.
Due to the vandalisation of electricity poles by Boko Haram which destabilised electricity supply in Maiduguri and its environs, the then late President Muhammadu Buhari established the emergency gas power plant in the state which the state is enjoying up till now.
The project was initiated in 2021 as a presidential intervention after insurgents vandalized power infrastructure, cutting Maiduguri off the national grid for nearly two years. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited executed the project, which was commissioned in December 2023.
Gov. Zulum noted that the plant has been pivotal in restoring power supply to the state.
'This has not only revived economic activities but has also significantly improved livelihoods and strengthened efforts to address security challenges,' he said.
According to the governor, stable electricity from the 50MW plant has spurred socio-economic development, created jobs, and supported small and medium enterprises across the state.
He added that reliable power has helped improve security by boosting economic opportunities and reducing vulnerabilities linked to insurgency.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to work with the Federal Government to drive sustainable development in the energy sector and secure lasting peace in Borno State.