Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a total of ₦68 billion in operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP), a facility that has been the sole source of electricity for the state capital since insurgents destroyed critical power infrastructure years ago. The funding will be disbursed as a monthly intervention of ₦2 billion from March 2026 through to December 2028, specifically designed to bridge the existing funding gap in the plant’s operations. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor described the approval as timely and impactful, noting that the intervention has already begun to revive economic activities, improve livelihoods, and strengthen ongoing security efforts in a state that has endured some of the worst devastation caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant was originally initiated in 2021 as a presidential intervention under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, following a prolonged blackout that left Borno State without electricity for nearly two years. The outage was triggered by the systematic vandalism and destruction of key transmission towers and substations by insurgents operating around the Lake Chad region and along the Damaturu–Maiduguri power corridor. For almost 24 months, residents relied on generators, solar panels, and other off‑grid alternatives, but the economic cost was staggering: businesses collapsed, healthcare delivery was compromised, and the quality of life deteriorated drastically. The plant was commissioned in 2021 and later upgraded to a 50MW capacity in December 2023, providing enough electricity to power critical government facilities, hospitals, water treatment plants, and commercial areas in the state capital. However, keeping the plant running has been a financial struggle.
Governor Zulum, who has been a persistent advocate for restoring full electricity to Borno, noted that the funding received from the Tinubu administration comes at a critical time when the state government is grappling with multiple demands, including the resettlement of internally displaced persons, reconstruction of destroyed communities, and the provision of basic services. He stated that the monthly N2 billion intervention will be channelled directly into the operations of the MEPP, covering costs such as fuel procurement (the plant runs on diesel and gas), maintenance of turbines, and payment of technical personnel. “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, totalling N68 billion to bridge the existing funding gap in the operations of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP),” Zulum said in the statement. He added that the approval has “not only revived economic activities but has also significantly improved livelihoods and strengthened efforts to address security challenges.”
The link between electricity and security is not incidental. The Borno State government and the military have long argued that restoring stable power to Maiduguri and surrounding towns is a strategic component of counter‑insurgency. With reliable electricity, communities are less vulnerable to nocturnal raids, businesses can operate after dark, and surveillance systems can function effectively. The MEPP has already enabled round‑the‑clock lighting in major streets and markets, reducing the freedom of movement that terrorists once enjoyed under the cover of darkness. The new funding will ensure that the gains made are not reversed, particularly as the military continues to push insurgents further into the Lake Chad fringes.
President Tinubu’s approval of the ₦68 billion package is seen as a continuation of his administration’s focus on the North‑East, which has been devastated by over a decade of insurgency. In his first year in office, Tinubu had already authorised the release of funds for the rehabilitation of the Bama–Maiduguri road and other critical infrastructure. The power plant intervention, however, is among the most direct lifelines extended to the state government, because it addresses a recurrent operational expense that the state had struggled to sustain on its own. The Borno State Government had previously been covering a portion of the plant’s running costs, but the funding gap was widening due to inflation and the rising cost of diesel. Without the federal support, the plant risked shutting down, plunging the state capital back into darkness.
Zulum’s commendation of the “swift federal intervention” contrasts with the often‑strained relationship between state governors and the federal government over resource allocation. The governor, who is a respected figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has consistently backed President Tinubu’s policies, even as other northern governors have been more critical. The approval of the ₦68 billion may also reflect the president’s recognition of Zulum’s performance in governance and security management, as Borno has recorded significant improvements in the resettlement of displaced persons and the reopening of agricultural lands.
The Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant is not a conventional power station; it operates as an emergency solution in a conflict zone. The plant uses a combination of gas turbines and diesel generators, with the fuel sourced from depots in neighbouring states. Security has been a major concern, as trucks transporting diesel to the plant have been ambushed in the past. The federal government has since provided military escorts for fuel convoys, and the new funding will ensure that those logistics are sustained. The plant also employs dozens of local technicians, and its continued operation creates a ripple effect in the local economy, from fuel transporters to small businesses that rely on electricity to run welding machines, bakeries, and cold rooms.
The impact of the intervention is already being felt. Residents of Maiduguri, who for years suffered through dark nights and sluggish commerce, have reported improved power supply, with some areas receiving up to 10 hours of electricity daily. Hospitals that once relied on expensive diesel generators are now able to rely on the grid for critical equipment. Water treatment plants have resumed full operation, reducing the risk of water‑borne diseases that were once common in the internally displaced persons camps. The state government has also installed solar‑powered streetlights as a complement, but the base load remains the MEPP.
Governor Zulum has promised that the funds will be used transparently and that the plant’s operations will be audited regularly to ensure value for money. The state government has already published the plant’s monthly fuel consumption and power output on its website, an unusual step that reflects Zulum’s commitment to accountability. For now, the people of Borno can look forward to at least two more years of stable power, provided the intervention is implemented as planned. The hope is that by the end of the funding period, the national grid would have been repaired to the point where the emergency plant becomes a backup rather than the primary source. Until then, every megawatt counts, and every billion naira matters in a state that is slowly rising from the ashes of war.
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