The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has pledged to resume oil exploration activities in Borno State and address delays in the upgrade of the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant.
The commitments followed a meeting between Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, and the NNPCL management team in Maiduguri on Wednesday.
The delegation was led by the Chairman of the NNPCL Board, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, with discussions focusing on energy development, oil exploration and the completion of the emergency power infrastructure.
Speaking during the meeting, Zulum highlighted Borno State’s commercial potential and strategic location, noting that it shares borders with three countries.
The governor expressed optimism that the resumption of exploration in the Borno Basin would unlock the state’s hydrocarbon resources, attract investment and stimulate economic growth.
He said renewed exploration efforts could create opportunities for economic expansion and contribute to the state’s development.
However, Zulum expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant, which is expected to improve electricity supply to the state capital and surrounding communities.
He noted that the necessary materials for the project had been on site for about two years, yet the upgrade remained incomplete.
The governor urged the NNPCL management to intervene and resolve the challenges delaying the project, stressing that its completion was crucial to the socio-economic well-being of residents.
He also called for the timely delivery of the project to improve electricity supply for households, businesses and other economic activities in Maiduguri and its environs.
In response, Kida assured the governor of the company’s readiness to fast-track the resumption of oil exploration in the Borno Basin.
He also pledged that the company would work to resolve the bottlenecks hindering the completion of the emergency power plant upgrade.
The NNPCL chairman commended Zulum for his continued support and efforts to create a conducive environment for investment and energy development in the state.