• Says FG not responsible for survey delay

The Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, has said the federal government is committed to executing the multi-billion naira Mambilla hydropower project in Taraba State.

The minister told North East Trust in an interview that no administration had shown high level of commitment and political will on the project than the present one.

He said apart from the presidential committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari for the implementation of the project, funds were released to the Taraba State Government to pay surveyors handling the land and aerial survey of the project’s site.

The minister explained that the money was released to the Taraba State Government because of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the

Federal Ministry of Power and the state government for the survey work.

The minister further disclosed that under the MOU, N825m was released to the state government.

He explained that the money was released to the state government because under the Land Use Act, all lands belonged to state governments.

Eng Mamman also told North East Trust that another N550m was released to the state government by by his ministry for sensitisation of host communities in areas earmarked for the project.

The minister stated further that it was after the completion of the survey work that compensation would be paid to owners of the land marked for the project.

He debunked the rumour that that the federal government was responsible of the delay in carrying out the survey work.