Mambilla Hydro Power Project: Sambo Directs Speedy Completion

ABUJA, July 12, (THEWILL) - The Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has directed the Presidential Committee on Mambilla Hydro Power project and its consultants to complete the project in record time. The project was initiated in 1982.

He urgently requested for a revised programme including the feasibility study of the Mambilla Dams to be completed in a fortnight so as to make way for generation of the detailed design which when completed will lead to the speedy completion of the project.

"This administration has resolved to look into the area of power generation and the key areas of concentration are hydro-power and coal power production", he said.

In his interaction with the Presidential Committee on the Mambilla Project and the consultants, Sambo assured that the Africa Development Bank (ADB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have each offered to provide $3 billion and $2 billion respectively to fund power generation in the country.

He identified the challenges militating against the completion of the Mambilla hydro electricity project which include geo-technical, geo-physical orthophoto-mapping, accessibility, environmental impact assessment problems, legal issues as well as lack of payment to various contactors handling the project.

Sambo said the current administration’s effort at tackling these issues speedily,

resolved to set up a Committee consisting of Ministries of Power and Justice, Special Adviser to the President on Power, Prof. Bath Nnaji and a representative of the Office of the Vice President.

He also promised to provide helicopter to ease the problem of accessibility, orthophoto mapping, geo-technical and geodetic surveys among others.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Power, Engr Nuhu Wya, said that Mambilla hydro electricity power project which is sited at Gembu in Taraba State is to offer 2600 megawatt of electricity.