The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has pledged to deliver the 50mw combined gas power plant under the the Maiduguri and Environs Emergency Power Project (MEPP) on schedule.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony, the Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, described it as the happiest day of his life and a huge relief to the people of Maiduguri, who have been without power supply for nine months.
According to Zulum, NNPC’s commercial investments in the 50mw combined gas power plant will ultimately increase energy supply level to Maiduguri and environs, thereby impacting the state’s economy positively, when completed.
He assured that his administration will do everything possible to ensure that maximum security of lives and property are guaranteed for the project implementation team and residents of the state.
“I assure you that, as a government, we will provide the much-needed security to ensure that this high pressure-scheduled project is completed on cost, scope and quality,” Zulum added.
In his remarks, the NNPC group managing director, Mallam Mele Kyari, explained that the project was borne of a presidential directive to provide emergency solution to the electricity supply disruptions facing Maiduguri and environs as a result of incessant activities of insurgents.
The GMD, therefore, assured the governor and the people of Maiduguri that the project will be delivered in good time.
Kyari said the project would further improve NNPC’s gas utilization efforts for the socio-economic benefit of Nigerians.
“NNPC, as an enabling organisation, is committed to the delivery of this project within schedule and has already awarded the contract to General Electric Global (GE) for the supply of gas turbine, while engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) have been contracted to China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC),” he stated.
Kyari noted that the project would be a model for other cities across the country.
A statement by the NNPC group general manager, Garba Muhammad, said Maiduguri has been without power supply since January 2021 as a result of the activities of insurgents who have blown up transmission lines at least twice.
In August 2021, the NNPC signed an official contract with the CMEC and GE on the project. The ground breaking ceremony signifies the official commencement of the project, as the contractors have since moved to site.
