Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has called on the federal government to fast track ongoing repairs of a transmission line along Maiduguri-Damaturu road, which was destroyed by Boko Haram in a bid to restore electricity to Maiduguri and it’s environs.
The Governor who made the call on Thursday when he visited the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamma in Abuja also sought assistance of the federal government on the provision of solar grid and injection substations in some rural and urban areas of Borno.
The destruction to the transmission line along Maiduguri-Damaturu road was done by Boko Haram using an improvised explosive device and has left populated Maiduguri in darkness for in nearly one month now. The situation was made worse by some faults on two more power lines within the same area.
“It is now getting to one month since Maiduguri was put in total blackout. We are here to support, encourage and to also appeal to your humble office to fast track the ongoing repairs so that energy can be restored. Borno state government will do everything possible to support the processes” Zulum said.
Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Northeast Governors Forum, Zulum added his voice in calling for continued focus on the Mambila hydro power and Dadin Kowa projects sited in Taraba and Gombe states respectively, noting that when completed, the two projects have potentials of resolving many economic and social problems facing the northeast, through the utilization of energy for small, medium and large scale businesses.
Power Minister, Engr. Mamman assured that despite all odds, the rehabilitation work will be completed as soon as possible.
As regards the provision of injection substations and solar grid, the minister informed Zulum, that the ministry had selected communities for the project, some of which were in Borno.
The ministry’s director renewable energy, Engr. Faruk Yabo Yusuf and managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, jointly briefed Governor Zulum on new projects in Borno.
The power minister thanked Zulum for the visit, and commended his style of people-driven leadership, describing the Borno governor as focused, brave and accountable.
