The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has sought the support of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) in developing power infrastructure in the state to boost supply.
He explained that his visit to NDPHC headquarters was to solicit for the company’s support in construction and rehabilitation of vandalized power infrastructure in the state.
“I am here today wearing two caps, one as the Governor of Borno State and two as Chairman of the North East Governors Forum”.
According to him, the state has been devastated by the activities of the Boko Haram adding that it is time to put these facilities back in operation so that the people can return to their towns and local governments stressing that the population of Maiduguri has been overstretched with influx of displaced communities for safety.
He urged NDPHC to consider rehabilitation of the 30MW Power distribution plants established in the 1970’s and 80”s to provide energy requirement for the Lake Chad area of the state which he said has capacity to produce enough food for this country but was destroyed by the bandits.
Zulum disclosed that there are over two million internally displaced people in the state and pointing out that Borno State requires more distribution injection substation of 15MVA capacity in several locations across the state.
The Governor stated that the Lake Chad basin has about 25, 000 square kilometer of land but regretted that incessant degradation, desert encroachment has reduced the land area to 5,000 square km.
He said the Lake Chad basin provides job employment for over 10 million Nigerians.
The Governor requested that NDPHC’s assistance in extending the 132Kv lines from Maiduguri to other parts of the state stating that what the people need to boost economic activities is electricity.
He said the North East region wants the Kashim Bila and Dadin Kowa – 40MW hydro power project be completed to benefit the North East region pointing out that the state is endowed with sunshine of between 12 to 13 hours daily which will support solar power system in the area and urged NDPHC to come to the aid of the state/region in this direction.
Gov. Zulum made the appeal when he visited the company in Abuja.
He commended the Managing Director of NDPHC, Mr. Chiedu Ugbo and the company’s management for their achievements in the area of power infrastructure development in Nigeria.
Professor Zulum noted that Mr. Ugbo led management has contributed immensely in the power infrastructure development in the country and congratulated Ugbo and his Executive Management team for their re-appointment into office for another four years.
Earlier in his welcome address, Managing Director/CEO of NDPHC, Mr. Ugbo who welcomed the Governor to the company commended on the good work he is doing for the people of Borno State.
Ugbo told the visiting Governor that NDPHC has its presence in the state with constitution of 75MVA distribution injection substation in Lassa and Bama town respectively.
The Managing Director added that another distribution injection substation was delivered by NDPHC at the University Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri.
He promised the Governor that NDPHC will work with the state to see how it could help to tackle some of the request as well as to rehabilitate the vandalized distribution facilities in the state.
Ugbo specifically told the Governor that NDPHC will work with Yola electricity distribution company under whose jurisdiction Borno state falls in addressing the request of the state.
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