Politics
EKPERIKPE Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), has assured Borno residents of steady gas supply for transmission of electricity by the state’s emergency power plant.
The minister made this known to newsmen shortly after an inspection visit to Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP) on Saturday in Maiduguri.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ekpo, who earlier paid a courtesy call on the Deputy governor, Umar Kadafur, said his ministry’s was out to ensure that gas was given the rightful place to drive the nation’s economy.
“I have been briefed that the single aspect of it that generates about 33 megawatt has been completed and that the combined aspect of it which will add 18 megawatt is in progress and is to be commission next year,” he said.
Ekpo said that the Federal Government was undertaking a project that called AKK, which would take gas up to Kano, adding that the NNPCL would within the shortest possible time put on LNG plant in Kano so that the gas will be processed.
“If we have this kind of projects in other states within the northern parts of the country, they will not have the challenge of having gas to drive the process.
“The federal government is on course, AKK is over 90 per cent completed and I want to give assurance by the leadership of the NNPCL led by Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Malam Mele-Kyari, that by next year’s first quarter it will be completed and the economic life of the people will change drastically,” the minister said.
Ekpo, who expressed happiness over what he saw at MEPP also thanked the Borno government for creating the enabling atmosphere for the execution of the project.
“I commended the NNPCL team for interpreting the message of the former president Muhammadu Buhari to put this structure (MEPP) here to provide power to the people of Borno State.
“At this point in time I would like to give kudos to the former president Muhammadu Buhari who gave the directive of the institution of emergency power supply to Borno for what I have seen everything is in good shape,” he said.
The minister said that the Maiduguri project was a clear proof that gas power plant could work, especially with determined people who are ready to interpret the language of the government.
“Of course you know without power the economic life of the people of Borno State cannot move on. So am really impressed. I have seen the single sector aspect of it and the combined one that is ongoing.
“The single circuit has been completed and commissioned, which is providing power to the people of Borno State.
“I have seen that the gas storage is for two days and they are working on the massive one in front of us that will be taking gas for up to eight days.
“This is improvement and this is the product of the idea of the management of the NNPCL that they need to supply power.
“This is interpreting the dream of the new President, President Bola Tinubu, to drive the economy of Nigeria using gas.
“And I believe in due course this will be replicated in other states of the federation.
“So I am really impressed. I am happy and of course by January 2025, we will be back here (MEPP) to commission the combined circuit of this very project, including the eight days storage that have been put in place.
“So I am impressed and it is left for you (media) to shout to the world; let Nigerians know what NNPCL is doing; let Nigerians know the peace that is prevailing in Borno State for this project to be executed, and for other states of the federation to always provide the conducive atmosphere when Federal government allocate projects to them so that those projects will be completed on time for the good of the people of that area,” he said.
Responding, Kadafur, expressed the state government appreciation to federal government for providing the gas plant, and NNPCL for ensuring the plant was established within the shortest possible time in Maiduguri. (NAN)
A.I
Dec. 15, 2024
Tags: Malam Mele-Kyari Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo NNPCL Umar Kadafur
