$3b Makurdi hydropower plant: NCP okays governance framework

The National Council on Privatization, (NCP) on Tuesday approved a governance framework for the development of a $3 billion hydroppwer plant in Makurdi, Benue State.

When completed, the project will be the first of its kind in the country and is expected to provide 1,650 megawatts of power.

It is also expected to be the largest hydropower project in West Africa.

The approval was one of the highlights of the meeting of the Council presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A statement by the vice president’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said with the NCP’s nod, the development of the project, which it informed, emerged by way of an unsolicited proposal, will now proceed through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement subject to compliance with all existing laws including the Public Procurement Act.

The statement explained that under the NCP approved Governance Framework, a PPP procurement process was adopted whereby the proponent of the unsolicited proposal and other qualified interested investors would participate in a transparent bidding process.

Similarly, it noted,there is a Project Steering Committee of the NCP to provide leadership and high-level support to ensure the success of the transaction.

The membership includes Power Minister as Chair, Water Resources Minister as Co-Chair, the BPE DG as Vice Chairman and other members drawn from the Ministries of Justice, Environment, Agriculture, representatives of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC; NBET, and TCN. Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba State Governments will also have members and the Director of Infrastructure & PPP at BPE will serve as Secretary.

A Transaction Adviser of international repute would also be engaged for the project to assist BPE.

The statement revealed that the Council also received updates on the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant and was notified of the investors’ interest in the concession of the plant.

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It stated that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has issued a Certificate of Compliance in respect of the Outline Business Case (OBC) submitted for the project.

According to the statement, the Project Delivery Team held a meeting in September 2022 and reviewed the documents after the Transaction Adviser submitted the documents, including the Strategy paper, Inception Report, and Request for Qualification.

On the updates on the situation with the Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, Council was informed of the intervention and restructuring of Kano, Benin, Kaduna, Ibadan and Port Harcourt Discos.

The statement pointed out that notification for change of directors of those Distribution Companies (DisCos) has now been fully filed to the Corporate Affairs Commission, reflecting the takeover of the 60% shares by the lenders Kaduna, Kano and Port Harcourt DisCos.

The filings for Ibadan and Benin are ongoing and should be completed soon, the Council was informed, the statement maintained.

In addition, it said, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) issued an advert last week for the sale of 60% of the shares of Ibadan Disco.

The NCP has also approved the appointment of Ms Sutura Aisha Bello, as a Director for Infrastructure and PPP in the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).