Stakeholders To FG: Investigate Billions Of Naira Spent On Failed Mamblla Hydro Electric Power Project

By Yusuf Salihu Sansani,

Jalingo Stakeholders in the Mambilla Plateau Sardauna Local Government of Taraba State have demanded the Federal Goverment to investigate the billions of naira appropriated on the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project over the years but no work done.

Chairman of the Stakeholders in the host communities, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama who presented the demand for the investigation while reacting to the zero allocation for the project in the 2024 budget presented to the National Assembly by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, expressed disappointment over the zero allocation to the project despite its potentials of generating 3050 Megawatts of electricity but however said it is hoped that the the zero allocation was because the Federal government wants to investigate the huge amount of money spent on the project.

“Probably the Federal government wants to investigate the huge amount spent on the proposed multi- billion Mambilla Power Project and that is why it did not allocate funds for the project in 2024 budget.

“If it was for this reason of investigating what happened to the huge amount of money spent on the project which is still on the drawing board, then it is welcomed by the entire people of Taraba state and we are supporting the Federal Government to investigate what happened,” Bobboi Kaikama reiterated.

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He stated that if the zero allocation to the Mambilla hydro Power Project was because it was not on the pririoty list of President Ahmed BolaTinubu, it was unfortunate and a  deservice to the people of Taraba State, the North-East zone and indeed the entire country.

“The Mambilla Hydro Power Project when executed has the capacity to generate 3050 Mega Watts of electricity, if the zero allocation by the present administration was because the Federal Government has no intention to execute the project it is then very disappointing and this fully shows that the Government has no intention of developing infrastructure in the power sector,” he said.

The Chairman lamented that communities in Taraba Central Senatorial zone hope to see the project executed because it is the only Senatorial zone in the entire country that is not  connected to the National Grid.

“Taraba Central Senatorial Zone in Taraba State has five Local Governments but the entire zone is not enjoying electricity from the National Grid and the people hoped that the project when executed will address the absence of electricity in the area.”

It could be recalled that the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project at the Mambilla plateau in Sardauna Local Government in Taraba State was initiated over 40 years ago and billions of naira have been allocated every year for it but it is yet to take off.