Nigeria’s fledgling power supply is expected to receive a big boost after several years as the $5.8b Mambilla power project, with an estimated power generating capacity of 3050 megawatts, finally takes off in the first half of 2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari in his 2020 new year message, listed the power project amongst the severals expected to come upstream , early, 2020
The President also hinted of his administration’s plans to carry out the long awaited power sector liberalization which will open up the sector and allow power businesses to generate and sell power
This is just as the President also announced plans to Flagg off the controversial Livestock Development Project Grazing Model in Gombe State where 200,000 hectares of land has been identified.
The President listed the construction of the Mambilla Power project, which was first conceived about 40 years ago, amongst the projects that will take off before the end of June, 2020
He also listed work on the AKK gas pipeline, OB3 gas pipeline, as well as the expansion of the Escravos – Lagos pipeline to commence in the first quarter of 2020.
The Mambilla power project was first conceived in 1982, under the administration of late President Shehu Shagari , as a large roller-compacted concrete dam with 3 hydraulic tunnels totaling 33 kilometers with power generators capacity of 3050 megawatts
Other projects listed by the President as priority to his administration include construction of 47 road projects scheduled for completion in 2020/21, including roads leading to ports.
Major bridges including substantial work on the Second Niger Bridge, Completion of 13 housing estates under the National Housing Project Plan
Major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri and Enugu international airports, he said will be commissioned in 2020.
He disclosed that he will be launching agricultural rural mechanisation scheme that will cover 700 local governments over a period of three years, as well as the training program for 50,000 workers to complement the country’s 7,000 extension workers.
Other projects to be commissioned include the Lagos – Ibadan and Itakpe – Warri rail lines which will come in the first quarter
Commencement of the Ibadan – Abuja and Kano – Kaduna rail lines also in the first quarter
