Babangida Aliyu Urges Tinubu to Revive Stalled Mambilla Power Project

Former Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene and revamp the long-abandoned Mambilla Hydro Power Project in Taraba State. Aliyu’s remarks, delivered at a two-day interactive session on government-citizen engagement held in Kaduna, reflect growing concern over the lack of progress despite huge financial commitments.

The Mambilla Power Project, one of Nigeria’s most ambitious energy infrastructure projects, has suffered decades of delays, funding controversies, and mismanagement. Conceived to generate over 3,000 megawatts of electricity, the project remains dormant, with no significant progress to justify the billions of naira reportedly spent.

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 “Mambilla Project Wasting Away: Babangida Aliyu Demands Federal Action”

In his address, Aliyu did not mince words in describing the Mambilla project as a monumental failure of successive administrations. “The project has been on for years without any commensurate development to the funds sunk in the project,” he lamented, calling for decisive leadership from President Tinubu to break the cycle of inaction.

According to Aliyu, one of the major stumbling blocks has been the failure to properly compensate communities for land acquired for the project. “Payment of the compensation for the land has not been made, and yet, the amount of money sunk into the Mambilla Hydro Power Project is of great concern that needs to be addressed,” he stated.

This lack of compensation, he explained, has stifled goodwill among local communities and stalled further developmental work. He urged the Tinubu-led government to prioritize resolving these lingering issues, saying that addressing compensation and re-evaluating the project’s execution are crucial steps toward restoring trust and moving forward.

A History of Missed Opportunities

The Mambilla Power Project has become symbolic of Nigeria’s chronic infrastructure challenges. Despite being first proposed in the 1980s and receiving several high-profile relaunches—including under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari—little has materialized on the ground. Aliyu criticized the inconsistency and lack of political will to follow through, noting that policy flip-flops and poor supervision have eroded confidence in the project’s viability.

He cited another example of poor project execution: the inauguration of a port in Baro, Niger State, by a former president, which has yet to function since the ribbon-cutting ceremony. According to Aliyu, these unproductive capital projects drain national resources and damage public faith in governance.

A Broader Vision for National Development

In addition to reviving Mambilla, Aliyu urged the federal government to consider dredging the River Niger to improve inland water transport and expand economic opportunities for the North and the country at large. He emphasized the importance of strategic infrastructure that would benefit Nigeria’s economic zones beyond the usual urban centers.

“Projects like the Mambilla Power Project and the River Niger dredging are not just for the North; they have the potential to boost national productivity, create jobs, and stabilize the power sector,” he said. According to him, equitable development and resource allocation are critical to national unity and sustainable progress.

Call for Accountability and Renewed Focus

Aliyu’s comments come amid heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s infrastructural spending and calls for better oversight of public funds. As the Tinubu administration settles into its second year, many Nigerians are demanding a clear roadmap for delivering critical infrastructure, especially in regions historically marginalized in terms of federal investment.

He urged the President to demonstrate a clear break from the past by ensuring that resources committed to projects like Mambilla translate into real, visible development. “This administration must not go the way of the past. We must do the needful now,” he added.

The former governor’s message was clear and urgent: the time for talking is over. What Nigerians need, he said, is action, transparency, and a renewed commitment to harnessing the country’s vast energy and infrastructure potential.

Conclusion: A Litmus Test for Tinubu’s Leadership

For President Tinubu, the Mambilla Power Project presents a crucial opportunity to make a lasting impact on Nigeria’s power sector. Successfully reviving the project could send a strong message about his administration’s commitment to development, accountability, and national progress.

As stakeholders like Babangida Aliyu raise the alarm, the challenge now rests on the government to rewrite the Mambilla narrative from a story of failure to one of fulfillment.