NNPCL Moves to Restart Borno Oil Exploration, Tackle Maiduguri Power Plant Delays

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has assured the Borno State Government that it will work towards resuming oil exploration in the state and addressing delays in the upgrade of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant.

The assurance followed a meeting on Wednesday in Maiduguri between Governor Babagana Umara Zulum and an NNPCL delegation led by its board chairman, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida.

The meeting addressed key energy issues, including renewed exploration in the Borno Basin and the prolonged delay in completing the emergency power plant upgrade.

Zulum highlighted the economic significance of resuming oil exploration, pointing to Borno’s considerable commercial potential and its location along the borders of three countries.

He said renewed exploration by NNPCL could help develop the state’s hydrocarbon resources and boost economic growth.

The governor also expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work on the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, which he described as essential to improving electricity supply in Borno.

He noted that materials for the upgrade had remained at the project site for about two years without the work being completed.

Zulum appealed to NNPCL’s management to address the bottlenecks responsible for the delay, emphasising that the project’s completion would support the socio-economic well-being of people in Maiduguri and surrounding communities.

Kida, in response, pledged the company’s readiness to accelerate efforts to restart oil exploration in the Borno Basin and resolve the issues delaying the power plant upgrade.

He commended the governor for his continued backing and for creating an environment conducive to investment in Borno State.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur, Secretary to the State Government Bukar Tijani, Acting Chief of Staff Dr. Babagana Mallumbe and other senior state officials.

Other members of the NNPCL delegation were Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr. Udy Ntia, and Executive Vice President, Gas, Power and New Energy, Mr. Olalekon Ogunleye.

Africans Angle News