Why Buhari Acted on 46 yrs old, $5.7bn Mambilla Hydropower – Fashola

He said the project was an engineer’s dream being fulfilled as its massive nature will challenge all local logistic capacities.

“It will easily contend as the largest single power plant in Africa, with its 3,050 megawatt (MW). It will take at least five years to build; during which time $5.7bn, about N2.1trn, will be expended. It is an Engineer’s dreams come true,” the minister said.

Describing the engineering features, Fashola said it will involve building massive dams, casting millions of tons of concrete, tons of cement, iron rods, mobilising equipment, and developing an ecosystem of productivity in the state.

Fashola said, “What is significant about it is that it was conceived since about 1972, and while many talked about it, the Buhari Government choose to act. That is change.”

He noted at after its approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2017, government is raising funding to begin it and that it was part of the discussions Buhari had when he visited China in 2016.

“The Minister for Finance is leading our negotiation team to raise the finance,” he added.

He said to forestall expatriates dominating the construction, the project is backed by the President’s Executive Order No 5 that seeks to promote and secure local content by ensuring that the jobs that can be done by Nigerians must be reserved for them.