Ndume praises Tinubu over ₦68bn Maiduguri power plant approval

By John Alechenu

Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving ₦68 billion operational support for the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).

The funding, to be released in phases from March 2026 to December 2028, aims to address power shortages in Borno State, exacerbated by insurgent attacks on infrastructure.

Ndume said this in Abuja Monday, explaining that stable power will boost economic activities, support SMEs, and complement military efforts against insurgents.

The federal lawmaker said, “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 fund released to the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant is a lifeline that would ultimately engender economic activities, particularly operations of Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (SMES).

“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 recruitment of able-bodied men by the terrorists.

“Apart from that, the stimulus for the seamless operations of our military would have been strengthened.”

The former Senate Chief Whip equally urged the relevant federal and state agencies, the military and the citizenry to ensure that power infrastructures were no longer destroyed, either by insurgents or the nefarious activities of vandals.

“It is to the eternal credit of the federal government that it has responded speedily to our lamentations over power shortage.
“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.”

He urged citizens to safeguard power facilities and assist security agencies in preventing vandalism.