TheCable

Abubakar Aliyu, minister of power, on Monday, inaugurated the project steering committee of the Makurdi hydro power plant.

The plant is projected to be the biggest hydro power plant in West Africa and will generate 1,650 megawatts.

The committee, chaired by the power minister, has Suleiman Adamu, the minister of water resources as co-chairman; Alex Okoh, director-general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) as the vice-chairman of the committee. Representatives of Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Plateau states are also on the committee.

Aliyu said the new hydro power plant in Makurdi, Benue state capital, will add to the base load which in turn will provide a resilient grid.

The minister added that President Muhammadu Buhari’s strides to ensure that electricity reaches the homes and facility of every Nigerian is delivering measurable results.

Aliyu noted that Zungeru hydro power plant of 700 megawatts is near completion at 97 per cent and will soon be commissioned, while Kashimbilla hydro power plant of 40 megawatts is already delivering power to the grid.

He said all these are part of the president’s efforts aimed at utilisation of hydro resources for power.

In his remarks, the minister of water resources emphasised the need and benefits of both ministries and relevant agencies of government working together through collaboration to fast track such projects that are of benefit to Nigerians.

Okoh, on his part, expressed optimism that the hydro power project will contribute towards a sustainable and enduring solution to the power supply shortages in Nigeria.

Okoh added that the Makurdi hydropower dam at Abinsi in Benue state will be executed through a public-private-partnership model.

In November, the National Council on Privatisation(NCP) approved a governance framework for the development of the $3 billion hydropower plant in Makurdi.