THE Minister of State for Power, Alhaji Mohammed Wakil, on Monday disbanded the Technical Committee for Reconnection of Borno State to the National Grid for alleged poor performance.

Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Mr Olawale Rasheed, disclosed the disbandment in a statement issued in Maiduguri and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The statement said the decision to disband the committee was taken after a recent stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

“The minister took the decision after high level interactions with security and intelligence personnel, especially when reports indicated that sabotage and insurgency are twin evils responsible for the blackout,” it said.

According to the statement, the minister has taken full charge of reconnection efforts to ensure quick result.

“Following a marathon meeting on the blackout crisis, the minister announced that he had disbanded the committee.

“Wakil also announced that he had subsequently took direct charge of the reconnection efforts, insisting that Maiduguri must be reconnected irrespective of security challenges facing the state,” it added.

The statement quoted the minister as saying that he had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the ministry’s technical team for the reconnection of the state to the national grid.

“Wakil also directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria to speed up work on the 330/132/33 KVA sub-station in Damaturu which when completed is capable of serving both Borno and Yobe.

“Borno should now have three sources of power supply from the national grid.

“The minister said the administration will no longer tolerate sabotage from within or outside on the reconnection efforts,’’ it said.

The statement said the minister directed officials of Transmission Company of Nigeria to hasten the pace of work on the 330/132/33KVA Sub-station in Damaturu which was adequate to supply the two states.

“Borno State will then get three sources of power namely the 132KVA Gombe- Biu-Damboa- Maiduguri line — the 330KVA new Sub-station on Damboa road in Maiduguri and the Damaturu 330/132/33 KVA which should be completed as quickly as possible,” it said.

NAN recalls that electricity supply to the state was disconnected in June 2014 after a suspected insurgents’ attack on Damboa Power Sub-station. (NAN)