Victoria Mbangwa
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Sunday, inaugurated a vital power infrastructure project at the Borno State University, Maiduguri a move set to transform the institution and its surrounding areas with more stable and reliable electricity.
Executed under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), the new facility includes a 1X7.5MVA, 33/11KV injection substation, 3km of 33KV line, 2.5km of 11KV line, 2.5km of low tension (LT) line, and three 500KVA distribution transformers. These additions are expected to significantly reduce outages and improve voltage consistency across the region.
Vice-President Shettima said the power upgrade aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing infrastructure as a driver of national development. “This is more than just electricity it is energy for learning, for growth, and for the future. Power is life, and life is power,” Shettima said.
Governor Babagana Zulum also praised the intervention, describing it as a timely solution to the persistent issue of low voltage in Maiduguri and surrounding communities. “The challenge of low voltage is really affecting access to power supply, and we are glad to have a 7.5 MVA injected substation in Borno. Indeed, this will increase the quality of power supply to Maiduguri metropolis and the environs,” he stated.
The impact of the project stretches beyond the campus. According to the Managing Director of Yola Electricity Distribution Company, Abdulrahman Isa, the improved power supply will support the growing needs of the university, the 500-unit Housing Estate, Auno, and Benisheik areas providing a reliable grid that accommodates future expansion.
Jennifer Adighije, Managing Director of the NDPHC, highlighted the significance of the project in bridging the electricity access gap. “This is the second distribution project that will be inaugurated in Borno and we expect two more before the end of the year,” she said.
Prof. Babagana Gutti, Vice Chancellor of Borno State University, expressed his gratitude to the federal and state governments, saying the project represents “a leap forward” for the university’s academic and research aspirations.
