Wakil Orders Restoration Of Power To Maiduguri Within 48 Hours

… Says FG Won't Tolerate Sabotage Any Longer
SAN FRANCISCO, January 19, (THEWILL) – A marching order has been given to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to restore electricity supply to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and its environs by connecting the state to the national grid within the next 48 hours.

Minister of State for Power, Hon Mohammed Wakil, who handed down the order Monday said “Borno should now have three sources of power supply from the national grid.”

He also expressed his determination to end the eight months black-out in the state by disbanding the Technical Committee saddled with the reconnection of the state to the national grid.

The Minister also instructed the TCN to speed up work on the power sub station in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, which, on completion, is expected to serve both Borno and Yobe States.

Maintaining that Borno people would no longer take any further excuses for the continuous blackout, Wakil warned that “sanction will be applied if the reconnection is not effected.”

He also warned that President Goodluck Jonathan administration will no longer tolerate sabotage from within or outside on the reconnection efforts, he directed TCN officials to fast-track the work on the Damaturu substation.

On the completion of the project, the minister said: “Borno State 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.”

According to him,”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.”