The Senate has urged the Federal government to include the Mambila Hydroelectric Power project as part of the legacy projects funded by the Renewed Hope Infrastructural Development Fund.
The motion is sponsored by Senator Haruna Manu (PDP, Taraba Central) and co-sponsored by twenty other Senators.
In his presentation, Senator Manu noted that in 2017, the Federal Ministry of Power signed a contract with a consortium of Chinese contractors, comprising CGGC, SHC, and CGOC, to construct the 3,050 MW Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project (MHEPP) in Taraba State at a cost of $5.792 billion.
According to him, the Federal Executive Council approved the contract, which includes an agreed-upon JV funding structure of 85% from the Chinese consortium and 15% from the Federal Government of Nigeria as counterpart funding.
He said the project is considered a priority due to its potential to generate 3,050MW of electricity and reposition the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.
The lawmaker further pointed out that the project is expected to have numerous benefits, including the creation of over 55,000 jobs, the construction of resettlement homes for over 100,000 people, and the production and supply of large quantities of steel, quarry stone, and cement.
The Senate resolved to maintain the original capacity of 3,000 megawatts and mandated its Committees on Finance, Appropriation, and Power to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to include the Mambila Hydroelectric Power project funding, including the 15% counterpart funding of $886 million, in the Renewed Hope Infrastructural Development Fund.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
