One would wonder why a project as important as the Mambilla hydro project, which promises 50,000 skilled jobs, enormous economic spill overs and 3,050 megawatts of electricity, has not seen the light of day since 1972 when the project was conceived.
From the President Olusegun Obasanjo era till date, it’s either been one conspiracy or the other, lies and fairy tales as a result of bureaucracy and weak commitment to see this viable project through, like every other lopsidedness approach towards meaningful projects.
President Muhammadu Buhari who doesn’t enjoy popular support due to economic down-turn, surprisingly has been the only siting president to have given the project some level of hope. If one thing the APC led government has achieved, it is the tremendous infrastructure development, and many may not know this.
The APC led government with little financial resources at her disposal has executed milestone infrastructure projects like the 600 road project, the completed N90bn Bodo Bonny road bridges. Other projects being funded under PIDF include the Second Niger Bridge, improved rail services and other supply chains to the hinterland.
With the development of the inland dry port in Kano and Kaduna, with the direct rail connection one can safely call President Buhari Mr. Project.
But the question still remains if PMB would fulfill his promise in the execution of the much needed Mambilla Hydro Power Project before handing over or if the current crises would continue to linger.
Studies have found that both short and long terms gains of this viable project won’t only eradicate poverty but also address via sociological means security unrest in the North East Region.
The Mambilla hydro project is regarded as Africa’s biggest dam project.
The Buhari government approved the composition of an Inter-ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC), and Project Delivery Committee (PDC), for the N2 trillon Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project with tremendous progress and milestone targets.
Contrary to fairy tales and bureaucratic lies, Sunrise Power Transmission Company (SPTC) which won the bidding process in 2003 and secured the approval of then President Obasanjo still remains the only local content pioneer with the lasting solution via its funding arrangement with the Chinese Export-Import Bank who are to provide 85 per cent of the funding (as a loan) while the government will provide 15 per cent ($870 million).
Unfortunately, the China Exim Bank withdrew its offer to support the project following legal battle between FGN and Sunrise Power Transmission Company.
The Buhari government advanced by the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, minister of power, and minister of water resources to reach a settlement with local content contractor Sunrise Transmission Company Limited after intervention by the President of China during PMB’s visit to China.
With pressure from Senate President Ahmad Lawan especially, other government officials and well meaning Nigerians, SPTC dropped its arbitration case against the Federal Government of Nigeria, of which the Minister of Justice, celebrated on national television.
Unfortunately, with the hope to move forward after valid contractual agreements executed, certain elements named the Lagos honorary SAN club spare-headed by the controversial Supo Shashore a former attorney general in Lagos and Nigeria’s lawyer on the P & ID case has been underpinned as influencing elements in the ministry of justice to pick holes and sabotage the settlement agreement already entered by FGN even against their own will.
However, this controversial lawyer is currently battling with the EFCC for alleged malpractice and money laundering and may be arraigned sometime this month.
As of today, FGN has failed to conclude its settlement agreement with Sunrise whilst going back to the ICC to present baseless claims and allegations against SPTCL. On 13th of October 2022, the ICC threw out fictitious allegations against Sunrise Power Transmission Company made by FGN’s lawyers, sadly leaving FGN vulnerable and exposed to the claims made by Sunrise Power Transmission Limited.
As it stands, FGN is liable to over $500m with reference to settlement agreement entered into by FGN. When would the jinx towards the successful kick-off of this viable project be broken and who would take the bull by its horn on the matter? Is Sunrise Power Transmission Company ready to still settle and drive the project to completion alongside its foreign counterparts and the China Exim Bank? Can Sunrise still trust FGN to stick firm to its words and reach a profitable consensus?
Does President Buhari GCFR have a full picture of events or in the dark like many other events? FGN should for once meet its own side of settlement agreements, sheath it’s sword and follow the honorable part to enable a jump start of the Mambilla hydro project instead of creating more platforms for negative media globally and also avoid unnecessary lability on this great nation which can barely survive at the moment.
Ibrahim Mustapha,
Pambegua, Kaduna state.
