The Senate has urged the Federal Government, in collaboration with its committees on finance and appropriation and the Ministry of Finance, to include funding for the Mambilla hydroelectric power project as part of the legacy projects under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed Hope Agenda.
This includes the required 15% counterpart funding amounting to ($868,800,000).
This is one of the prayers in a motion addressing the challenges of commencing the Mambila Hydroelectric power project, sponsored by Senator Manu Haruna representing Taraba Central.
Senator Manu, presenting the motion in the Senate plenary, reminded the chamber that in 2017, the Federal Government, through Ministry of Power, entered into a contract with a consortium of Chinese contractors to construct the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project (MHEPP) in Taraba State.
The project, valued at $5.792 billion, aims to build a 3050 MW hydroelectric power facility.
He highlighted that the Federal Executive Council under President Buhari’s administration approved the contract with a funding structure involving 85% from the Chinese consortium and 15% from the Federal Government of Nigeria as counterpart funding.
”The project is set to span 72 months and covers an area of over 146 square kilometers in Kurmi and Sardauna Local Government Areas of Taraba State”.
”Given the priority accorded to power generation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project (MHEPP), capable of generating 3050 MW, is crucial. It is also seen as vital for enhancing the capacity of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex with an investment of $1.78 billion, thereby underscoring its national importance as a priority project” he explained.
Senator Manu assured that the project had great benefits for local content in the area of human capital development,
He noted that the benefits include the creation of over 55,000 jobs, construction of resettlement homes for over 100,000 people, hauling and supplying of over 2.7 million tons of steel, Production and supply of over 76 million tons of quarry stone,
The lawmaker further said the cement companies of Ashaka and Benue have the opportunity to produce and supply cement, and for Styer Nigeria Limited, DPAN Limited, and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Limited to manufacture trucks and participate in over 12,000 trips of haulage and transportation logistics from Lagos and Calabar ports to the host community;
Contributing to the debate, Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume believed that if the project is fully implemented, it will positively impact the socio-economic development of the North Eastern region, which has been largely neglected in terms of infrastructure development.
He also emphasized that the project would significantly improve power generation in the country, ”If this will be the only project this administration could achieve is enough achievement.”
Similarly, in his support, Senator Adams Oshiomhole emphasized the importance of power generation to the development of technology, stating that nothing could be achieved without power.
Many Senators supported the motion to the extent that the Senate President assured that the Senate would meet with the President for the proper commencement of the project.
Bashir M
