Ndume Hails Tinubu’s N68bn Support for Maiduguri Power Plant

Senator Ali Ndume has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration for its significant intervention in Borno State, specifically the approval of ₦68 billion in operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant. Ndume, representing Borno South and a former Senate Leader, described this financial injection as a critical lifeline that will significantly contribute to economic recovery and bolster security in the state, which has long suffered from the devastating impact of insurgency.

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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.

The emergency power project, initiated in 2021, was a presidential response to the prolonged electricity blackout in Borno, caused by the destruction of power infrastructure by insurgents. For nearly two years, residents of Maiduguri, the state capital, endured darkness, crippling economic activities and exacerbating humanitarian challenges. The newly approved funding, to be disbursed at ₦2 billion per month from March 2026 to December 2028, is designed to cover operational expenditures and bridge existing financial deficits, ensuring a consistent power supply.

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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.

Ndume expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the people of Borno, emphasizing that stable electricity is essential for revitalizing livelihoods, particularly for those in the informal sector and small to medium-scale enterprises. He articulated that a thriving informal economy directly combats the recruitment of young men by terrorist groups, thereby cutting off a key supply chain for insurgents. Furthermore, he noted that improved power supply would strengthen the operational capabilities of the military in their fight against the 'agents of darkness' who thrive in environments lacking visibility. The senator also urged collective vigilance from federal and state authorities, security agencies, and residents to protect critical power infrastructure from further vandalism.

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As the saying goes, an idle mind is the 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.