The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Malam Mele Kolo Kyari, yesterday said an order placed for the turbines for installation in the Maiduguri and Environs Emergency Power Stabilisation and Improvement Project will be delivered this month.
Maiduguri has been without electricity since February after the destruction of power towers by insurgents. The corporation has reached a deal with some foreign power companies to construct a 50MW gas power plant for Maiduguri and environs.
Malam Kyari made the assertion at the project’s ground-breaking ceremony in Maiduguri. He said following the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to the corporation on the provision of alternative power source to Maiduguri, “We have placed an order for turbines; we are taking supply in October.”
He said the gas plants will be installed in Maiduguri, close to the consumers to facilitate efficient service delivery.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, said all efforts by the authorities to restore power to the capital city in recent months proved abortive due to unbroken attacks of towers by the insurgents.
He said the project will improve power supply in the state, create jobs and reduce the magnitude of the problems caused by insurgency.
He cautioned against further attempts to disrupt the project saying “government will deal with any human being that is sabotaging the project.”