Skip to main content

Survey works begin for N2trn Mambilla hydro power project — Mamman


Minister of Power Engr. Sale Mamman has said that survey work for the 3050 megawatts (MW) Mambilla hydropower project will be completed in the next two months, while payment of compensation to people affected in the communities will follow immediately. 

Mamman, who said they were starting the project almost from the scratch, added that until recently, there was nothing on ground at the site of the $5.7 billion (about N2 trillion) project in Taraba State. 

 He deplored “many factors” that allegedly halted the commencement of the project, adding however that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved funds for payment of compensation, a key factor that will guarantee the commencement of the project.

Engr. Mamman made the disclosure yesterday in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust. He said he was surprised when he met nothing on ground at the project site, noting that not even the land for the construction had been acquired.

Mamman was among the ministers appointed by Buhari in August 2019. Few months after the president won a second term saw him unbundling some ministries including that of power, works and housing. Asked to comment on the status of the Mambilla hydropower project, Mamman said, “When I assumed office, I told everybody what happened. All these years talking about Mambilla, nothing had been done. I was surprised that I did not see anything on the ground. “We have not even acquired the land from the state government. Even to enter an agreement with the state government on the acquisition of the land had not been done. 

It is only this Buhari government that is trying to do something about it now. “With my coming, we have made a move and the president is giving me all the support. I have gone far and it is like we are about to kick off any time from now,” Mamman explained. 

Mambilla project site survey ongoing The minister said President Buhari has approved fund for the survey. “We got the land and we have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Taraba State government. “We have just finished remitting the money for the survey and immediately they finish, we will go for the remuneration and we will start paying compensation,” he said. 

On the project’s commencement timeline, Mamman said the surveyors had asked for at most two months to complete their work. “After that, those who will pay compensation will take about a month to clear the payment. After that, the companies will start rolling in to clear the site, construct the roads and start bringing in equipment for the project to begin,” he stated. He said all these were achieved with his assumption of office.

“These are the pointers that the project has already become a reality. This year, I assure you that we will make progress because there was nothing like that when I came. “I assure you that all the issues about the project will be cleared. We have agreed with the governor of Taraba and he has given us the site for us to commence work,” the minister said. Where Fashola stopped in the power sector The former minister, Babatunde Fashola, in December 2018 said government had started funding early works of resettlement and survey for the project. On the court case involving Sunrise Power, he had said in a televised response that the President Buhari administration does not want middlemen or ’10 percenters’ for the project, describing Sunrise’s claims as baseless. “We had provision for our counterpart funding in the 2018 budget and we also did so in the 2019 budget. Our contribution to start the early works, planning the surveys, resettlement is going on. The president has approved that part of that money should come from the Infrastructure Development Fund funded by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).”  

DAILY TRUST 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taraba State University Joins ASUU Ultimatum to 21 Universities Over 2025 Agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Taraba State University (TSU) chapter, has joined 20 other state-owned universities placed on a 14-day ultimatum over the alleged non-implementation of key provisions of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement. The ultimatum was issued following resolutions reached at ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja, where the union expressed concern over what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the agreement. ASUU warned that the affected universities could face industrial action if the outstanding issues are not resolved within the 14-day window. The union authorised the affected branches to begin formal processes for strike action should their respective university authorities fail to address the issues. Taraba State University, Jalingo, was specifically listed among the 21 universities affected by the directive. Other institutions on the list include Nasarawa State Universit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Truck Drivers Block Jalingo–Zing–Yola Road Following Dispute at NDLEA Checkpoint

Taraba Facts Truck drivers have reportedly blocked the Jalingo–Zing–Yola road following a disagreement with a soldier at an NDLEA checkpoint last night. The incident has disrupted movement along the major highway, leaving motorists and other road users stranded. As of Thursday morning, the road remains blocked, with the situation reportedly affecting the free movement of vehicles along the route. The circumstances surrounding the disagreement between the truck drivers and the security personnel remain unclear. Residents and road users are calling on relevant authorities to urgently intervene, investigate the incident and resolve the dispute to restore normal traffic. Authorities are also urged to ensure that the matter is properly addressed and that the safety and movement of commuters along the busy route are not further compromised.
Post a Comment
Read more

Taraba Begins ₦5,000 Deduction for Teachers’ Permanent Identity Cards

The Taraba State Universal Basic Education Board (TSUBEB) has initiated a ₦5,000 deduction from teachers as part of arrangements for the production of Permanent Identity Cards for teachers across the state. According to UBEC, the identity cards are expected to strengthen staff records, improve security and enhance administrative efficiency in the management of teachers across Taraba State. UBEC further said the Permanent Identity Card project is also expected to assist the state government in developing an accurate and verifiable database of teachers. Such a database will provide Governor Agbu Kefas with reliable information on personnel within the basic education system and support more effective planning, monitoring and personnel management. The initiative is therefore expected to strengthen security measures, improve staff verification and provide a more efficient system for managing personnel across Taraba State’s basic education sector.
Post a Comment
Read more