For over 30 years, the multi-billion Dolar Mambila hydropower project remains a shrouded shadow of itself despite consistent yearly budgetary provisions and releases in lieu of its execution.
Mambila Hydro Power Station situated between the Nigeria and Cameroon border in Gembu local government area of Taraba State was designed to produce 3,050 megawatts of electricity. It is one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in Africa.
The project for the construction of the power station was awarded to a Chines firm at $5.8bn in 2017.
Federal Government in 2020 voted N2bn for the project, N425 million in 2021 and N650 million in 2022. Besides, in the 2023 appropriation bill, N1.1bn was appropriated for the Mambila Hydropower Project.
Despite these releases, the project remains the same as it was in 1972 when it was first conceived.
Senator Gabriel Suswam, Chairman Senate Committee on Power, said despite yearly budgetary provisions for the project, there is nothing to show on the ground.
He said the pressure that the National Assembly exerted on authorities concerned to see to the execution of the Mambila Hydropower project, nobody seems to do to be making any tangible effort to change the narrative while public funds continue to be sunk into the project.
Senator Suswam said his committee has summoned the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power to appear before the committee to account for why the Mambila Hydropower project remains a shadow of what it was touted to be.
