Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, the Minister of State for Power said on Thursday that the presidency had directed the ministry to open two additional sources of power transmission from the National Grid to Borno, following continuous power disconnections by suspected insurgents.
Wakil made the disclosure at a meeting with youth and women groups in Maiduguri.
“I want to inform our people that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the opening of two other new sources of power supply to Borno.
“We have complied with the directive and in due course, the state will have three sources of power supply”, he said.
Wakil quoted Jonathan as directing the speeding up of ongoing federal. power projects in the state to expand supply to the state to reduce incidences of vandalisation to the barest minimum.
The minister said in line with presidential directive, Transmission Company of Nigeria had been directed to hasten the pace of work on the 330/132/33 kv sub station in Damaturu, which he said was adequate to supply both Yobe and Borno states.
“Borno will then get three sources of power namely the 132 kv Gombe -Biu – Damboa – Maiduguri line, the 330 kv new sub station on Damboa road in Maiduguri and the Damaturu 330/132/33kv which should be completed as quickly as possible.
“The era of only one line connecting the state to national grid is over. We must ensure at least three lines of connection to prevent future sabotage and vandalisation,” he said.
The meeting was aimed at marshalling plans for a successful PDP
presidential campaign in the state.