EFCC probing Mambilla project – Power minister

The Senate Committee on Power has described the proposed Mambilla hydropower project as a mirage, despite the yearly budgetary provisions running into billions.

This is just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is probing the project execution, said Minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu.

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The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station is a 3,050 megawatts (MW) power project still under development.

When completed, it is expected to be the largest power-generating installation in the country, and one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in Africa.

The federal government voted N2 billion for the Mambilla project in the 2020 budget. The project got N425 million in 2021; N650 million in 2022 and N1.1 billion in 2023.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue), said it was unfortunate that there was nothing to show for the huge sums spent on the project, said to be over 30 years on the drawing board.

Suswam stated this on Tuesday during the committee’s 2023 budget defence with the Ministry of Power and other agencies.

The lawmaker said since 2017, money had been provided for the Mambilla power project, but nothing had been done despite pressure from the National Assembly and Nigerians.

He, however, said the panel has summoned the power ministry’s permanent secretary and other relevant officials to appear before it, next week to explain how the yearly budgetary provisions for the Mambilla project were spent.

Meanwhile, the minister told the committee that the EFCC has launched an investigation into the Mambilla power project.

“Regarding Mambilla, we have met with stakeholders and we are resolving the situation. It has something to do with litigation. Nothing is going on regarding moving to the site.

“EFCC has stepped into the matter and we have given them information about it. We have given them the history of the power project, our lawyers have interfaced with the anti-graft agency, and unless we can pull out of litigation, we can’t do anything,” the minister said.