Economy
International Firm Proposes 50MW Gas Plant To Boost Power In Borno

International Firm Proposes 50MW Gas Plant To Boost Power In Borno
International firm proposes 50MW gas plant to boost power in Borno. An international film has proposed to build a 50-MW new gas-power plant in Auno, a suburb of Maiduguri to improve electricity supply in the state.
That is from Fikahel to Balbaya about 22km inter-town connections, and along the route we have some communities like Tsangayari, Chongom, Limanti and Kuba, we all provided electricity courtesy of Borno State government,” he said.
The general manager said that the rural electrification in Southern Borno had extended from Tashan Itashe to Tashan Tsamiya all in Bayo local government.
“In some parts of Northern Borno, we have electrified Mafa, the Headquarters of Mafa local government.
“And recently His Excellency graciously approved a lot of funds to electrify Dikwa town. And the project is currently ongoing, our engineers and technicians are on the site working,” Bukar said.
He also said that the board had sent an estimate proposal for the electrification of communities from Dikwa to Gamboru Ngala about two weeks ago.
“Maiduguri-Konduga, Konduga-Bama Inter-Town Connections (ITC), that is ITC, is already completed. As we speak our staff are currently working in Konduga township and Bama to restore electricity.
“As for Bama-Gwoza, we have started erecting poles because we are expanding to about 82km, and we are trying to meet up with our target before the rainy season.
“We have divided the work into phases and the 1st phase is to plant the poles, if the poles are well erected, the overhead materials will come later.
“So the poles’ erection has commenced from Bama-Gwoza up to Limankara,” he explained.
Mr Bukar also announced that the board had also forwarded a proposal for the electrification of communities of Yara and Gora towns, among others in Southern Borno.
“From Maiduguri to Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai local government, we are now mobilising to start work.
Fund had been released.
“We have submitted our proposal for the electrification of communities from Gajiram to Monguno to electrify Monguno and the proposal is receiving attention now,” the general manager said.
He, however, said that there was no light at the moment in Malam Fatori because of insurgency related issues; saying “the area is not accessible for now.
“Guzamala, Kukawa and Mobbar too don’t have light presently.”
Mr Bukar said that the board had succeeded in restoring light from Magumeri to Gubio in 2021 but they were unable to restore light in Kala-Balge, in Ngala Balge Local Government area.
“Marte no light but we have put its estimates in our 2025 budget proposal but as you know we cannot embrace all the projects at a time. They are capital intensive and equally we cannot start a project that we cannot complete.
“We are doing them (projects) in phases. If we finish with two, three local governments, then we go to another local government.
“Marte is there in our proposal, Guzamala is there in our proposal, Kukawa, Baga and Damasak towns are all there in our proposal.
“In Southern part there is no local government that doesn’t have light with the exception of Damboa because of insurgency.
“But recently we have rehabilitated Uba to Askira and we have restored light to Askira that was between November and December 2024,” the general manager said.
According to him, light has also been restored from Askira to Chibok, adding that only Damboa remains in dark, though its rehabilitation work was also captured in the 2025 budget.
“North Central is all electrified. In Kaga local government area, the transmission line was vandalised and His Excellency has asked us to bring an estimate and the matter is receiving attention,” the general manager said.
Mr Bukar also announced that Gov. Babagan Zulum has released more than N300 million recently for a company to refurbish all the transformers that needed to be refurbished and other substations that required certain maintenance.
The 52-MW Maiduguri Emergency Power Project (MEPP) which was built by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in form of intervention to provide reliable and sustainable electricity to Maiduguri is generating 32-MW with a daily average capacity of 14.20MW as at December 2024.

Gas Plan
MEPP is operating at unsuitable tariff of 6.2USc/kWh paid by NBET vs. Cost tariff of 15.88USc/kWh for an average of 41MW CCPP as at Sep. 2024.
The initiative behind the construction of MEPP by Mr Buhari’s administration in 2021 was aimed at bringing a lasting solution to extended power outages caused by vandalism and insurgency attacks on power supply infrastructure.
Based on that Mr Buhari directed the management of NNPC Ltd then to restore power supply to Maiduguri and its environs but Borno is still experiencing serious power outage hence the need for required additional power generating plants to meet its population needs.
Economy
Government Approves N1.149bn For Solar Street Lights, Infrastructure In Gombe

Government Approves N1.149bn For Solar Street Lights, Infrastructure In Gombe
Government approves N1.149bn for solar street lights, infrastructure in Gombe. He said the governor approved the projects to align with his vision for infrastructure development.
The Gombe government has approved N1.149 billion for the installation of solar street lights and other infrastructure in three local government areas of the state.
Mahmood Yusuf, director-general, Joint Project Development Agency, stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Gombe.
He said the Joint Project Council (JPC) meeting chaired by Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, approved the projects to align with his vision for infrastructure development.
Mr Yusuf listed the projects to include the installation of solar street lights on newly constructed roads in Kumo at the total cost of N740 million; fencing of the NALDA market and installation of solar street lights at Kwadon area of Yamaltu/Deba, costing N362 million.
He said that N47 million has been approved for the expansion of the grains market and construction of six public toilets in Billiri.
Mr Yusuf said that the N112 million grain market project was approved in 2024, but reviewed upward to N159 million, to provide six additional toilets.
The director said the council also approved the deployment of GOSTEC and Operation Hatara personnel, to scale surveillance in schools and cemeteries in the state.
He said the measure was sequel to complaints over spate of theft in public buildings by the ALGON Chairman, Sani Haruna.
“The council has resolved to implement stricter security measures by deploying GOSTEC and Operation Hattara to enhance surveillance. The scope of Operation Hattara would be expanded to cover all the 11 LGAs,” he said.

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya
Also, Fatima-Binta Bello, chairperson, Shongom Local Government Council, expressed readiness to consolidate on Mr Yahaya’s achievements in education and health sectors.
She stressed the need to strengthen human resources through recruitment of qualified personnel to address manpower gaps and enhance quality service delivery, especially at primary healthcare and basic education level.
Similarly; Ahmad Wali, chairman, Kwami LGC, said the council had initiated resurvey and remapping of grazing reserves and cattle routes to check farmer/herder clashes.
He warned that anyone found encroaching cattle routes and grazing lands would be sanctioned.
Akwa Ibom
Umo Eno Is Committed To Blue Economy, Maritime Development: Oil , Gas

Umo Eno Is Committed To Blue Economy, Maritime Development: Oil , Gas
Umo Eno is committed to blue economy, maritime development: Oil , Gas . Akwa Ibom Oil and Gas Professionals have been assured of the commitment of the state government to harnessing the potentials of the blue economy and the extensive maritime development.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Sea Port, Comrade Ini Ememobong, reiterated the commitment of the state government to harnessing the potentials when he hosted members of the Akwa Ibom Oil and Gas Professionals to a courtesy call in his office on Thursday, March 13.
He said the recent commissioning of the Surge Protections project and development of Surge lines in Oron, was a demonstration of Governor Umo Eno’s dedication to maritime development, emphasising that the action would bring greater focus on maritime transport and recreation in the area.
Highlighting the significance of the Ibom Deep Seaport, which he described as a foundation for future development, Comrade Ememobong acknowledged the importance of a collaboration between the Ministry and the maritime oil and gas professionals and assured them of his readiness to work together with them, in order to drive growth and development in the maritime sector so as to achieve the long-term objectives of the state in the maritime sector.
The Commissioner stated that the industrial city envisioned by the Governor aims to build indigenous capacity and ensure local participation in its development, saying, “This is where the local content law comes into play, requiring that a certain percentage of the project’s workforce, services, and materials be sourced locally.”
“To activate this law, however, there needs to be available capacity among local individuals and businesses.
This is why His Excellency has prioritised capacity procurement, which ensures that the necessary skills and resources are in place before project execution begins. By doing so, the government can guarantee that local communities are well-prepared to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the industrial city’s development,” he emphasised.
Comrade Ememobong seized the occasion to commend the technical committee, led by Mrs. Mfon Usoro, in driving the Ibom Deep Seaport project forward, saying the committee is ready to collaborate with key stakeholders to turn the vision of the Ibom Deep Seaport into a reality.
Earlier, while addressing the Commissioner, the leader of the delegation and Secretary General Port State Control for the West and Central African Region, Captain Sunday Umoren, expressed his team’s enthusiasm in supporting the development of Akwa Ibom State’s maritime sector.
As indigenes of the state, with expertise in various sectors of the maritime cluster, they seek to give back by investing in human capacity building, in view of the upcoming Ibom Deep Seaport.

Umo Eno
“We are here to render our services to you; we will respect your support in planning because the deep seaport is coming: the port is just a notch, but there are other aspects to port development, which if we don’t position ourselves very well, we may end up having a deep seaport in Akwa Ibom but not making the best out of it.” He said.
Other members of the team were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Project and Director of Project, Ibom Deep Seaport, Engr. Akaninyene Ekong; Former District Surveyor NIMASA, Marine Surveyor Engr. Eyo James; and Project Lead, Shell UK, Adjunct Professor John Moores University, UK, Prof Maurice Asuquo.
Also on the team were the Chief Engineer, Jad Construction limited, Warri, Engr. Iniobong Ebong; Marine Pilot, Nigerian Ports Authority, Bonny/Port Harcourt Pilotage District, Rivers Port Complex, Nkopuyo Abraham.
Economy
Tinubu Reveals How Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria; He Quickly Saved The Country

Tinubu Reveals How Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria; He Quickly Saved The Country
Tinubu reveals how Buhari almost bankrupted Nigeria; He quickly saved The country. The statement came hours after Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement Thursday afternoon reiterating his loyalty to the president and the ruling APC.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said he took over a Nigeria that was in the throes of bankruptcy after eight years of his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari.
“Nigeria would have been bankrupt if we had not taken the actions that we took, and we had to prevent the economy’s collapse,” Mr Tinubu said during a meeting with a group of supporters at the State House in Abuja.
The Nigerian leader has faced criticism for mishandling the economy after inflation soared for consumer items nationwide, a development analyst blamed mainly on the president’s decision to eliminate subsidies on essential petroleum products.
Mr Buhari was the first politician to be elected president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, serving two terms of four years each from 2015 to 2023. He handed power to Mr Tinubu on the same platform, arguing during his last days in office that he had turned the nation’s socio-economic conditions around during his tenure.
Both leaders remained key political allies, and Mr Buhari issued a statement earlier on Thursday reiterating his loyalty to Mr Tinubu and the APC, following rumours that the former president was considering joining a budding alliance to defeat Mr Tinubu at the ballot in 2027.
It was unclear how Mr Tinubu’s statement would be received by Mr Buhari, who now lives in Kaduna following his exit from power.
A spokesman for the former president did not immediately return a request seeking comments about his successor’s statement Thursday night.
A State House press release said the president sought to assuage citizens that conditions would continue to improve after inflation showed signs of cooling in recent months.
Read the full press statement as issued by the president’s spokesman Bayo Onanuga below:
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu articulated on Thursday the rationale behind his administration’s economic reforms, saying the primary motive was protecting the interests of future generations.
.
“For 50 years, Nigeria was spending money of generations yet unborn and servicing the West coast of our subregion with fuel. It was getting difficult to plan for our children’s future,” he said.
He made these remarks at the State House in Abuja while receiving a delegation of former National Assembly colleagues from the aborted Third Republic, during which he served as a Senator representing Lagos West.
The President highlighted the challenges faced at the beginning of his administration, especially economic and social issues, and expressed his gratitude for the delegation’s support in addressing these difficulties:
“We faced serious headwinds when I took over, very challenging times. Nigeria would have been bankrupt if we had not taken the actions that we took, and we had to prevent the economy’s collapse.
President Tinubu declared that the administration had been able to stem the tide and expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their collective support in turning things around.
“Today, we are sitting pretty on a good foundation. We have reversed the problem; the Exchange rate is stabilising. Food prices are coming down, especially during Ramadan. We will have light at the end of the tunnel.”
He said firm adherence to democratic tenets is the best route to economic, social, and political development.
“I am happy that you are holding to your belief in democracy. I thank you for keeping faith and remembering how we started. Some people missed the ball.
“Some leadership failed, but we kept the faith with our democratic beliefs and freedom and the right to aspire to the highest office in the land. I am benefitting from it.”
Senator Emmanuel Chiedoziem Nwaka, who spoke on behalf of the group, expressed his delight at some of the programmes that the Tinubu administration had implemented, especially the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) and at what the two organisations were offering Nigerians.
“I appreciate you for what you are giving to students because the student population is the largest demographic in the country. I’ve spoken with many of them, and many have benefited from it.

Buhari Almost Bankrupted Nigeria
“And the next one is the CREDICORP. That’s a major way of fighting corruption. You see a young man, you come out of school, you want to buy a car, you have to put down cash, you want to buy a house, and you are not married, but with the CREDICORP, you can get things done. I’m following their activities; we are delighted,” he said.
Other members of the delegation were Sen. Bako Aufara Musa, Hon. Terwase Orbunde, Hon. Wasiu Logun, Hon. Amina Aliyu, High Chief Obi Anoliefo and Hon. Eze Nwauwa.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
March 13, 2025
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