The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving ₦68bn in operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, describing the intervention as a critical boost to economic recovery and security in the state.
Ndume, a former Senate Leader, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
The emergency power project was conceived in 2021 as a presidential intervention to address the prolonged blackout in Borno following the destruction of power infrastructure by insurgents.
Many residents in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, had endured nearly two years without electricity after transmission facilities were vandalised by insurgents, crippling economic activities and worsening humanitarian conditions.
According to the lawmaker, the newly approved funding will be disbursed in phases, with a monthly operational expenditure support of ₦2bn from March 2026 to December 2028, bringing the total intervention to ₦68bn.
The fund is aimed at bridging existing financial gaps in the operations of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant.
Reacting to the development, Ndume expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, stressing that the restoration of stable electricity would significantly improve livelihoods, particularly for those operating within the informal sector.
“I join the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, and other well-meaning citizens of my state to express profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this great gesture aimed at ensuring stable electricity in the state,” he said.
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“The fund released to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant is a lifeline that would ultimately engender economic activities, particularly the operations of medium and small-scale enterprises.
“As the saying goes, an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. When the informal sector thrives in a place like Borno State, the government would have succeeded in cutting off the supply chain for the recruitment of able-bodied men by terrorists.
“Apart from that, the stimulus for the seamless operations of our military would have been strengthened.”
Ndume further noted that improved electricity supply would complement ongoing military operations against insurgents, whom he described as “agents of darkness” that thrive in environments lacking visibility, especially at night.
The former Senate Chief Whip also urged federal and state authorities, security agencies, and residents to safeguard critical power infrastructure from further destruction by insurgents and vandals.
“It is to the eternal credit of the federal government that it has responded speedily to our lamentations over power shortage,” he added.
“I urge our people to be vigilant and assist the security agencies in checking the excesses of vandals. We owe it a duty to safeguard the facilities, as the benefits of stable electricity are numerous.
“When power is restored, it will boost economic activities and improve livelihoods. It will also strengthen efforts to address security challenges.”
