25/10/2024
ALIA RECEIVES BRIEF FROM MAVERICK ENERGY PARTNERS OVER KATSINA-ALA HYDROELECTRICITY DAM INITIATED BY SEN. SUSWAM
By Ukeyima
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hycinth Alia received in audience the Chairman and Directors of Maverick Energy Partners as well as the Chief of Staff to Senator Gabriel Suswam, Dr. Moses Ukeyima, who came to pay courtesy call on the Governor in Government House, Makurdi.
The delegation briefed the Governor about the proposed construction of the 460MW Grand Katsina-Ala Hydroelectricity Dam at Gugur - Mbahav, Sh*tile, in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.
The feasibility study of the project was done when His Excellency, Senator Gabriel Suswam, was the Executive Governor of Benue State. However, because of the staggering cost of the project, the Benue State Government could not embark on its construction.
When Gabriel Suswam was elected as Senator representing Benue North East Senatorial District and later appointed as Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, he facilitated the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and International financiers for the construction of the Hydroelectricity project.
In pursuance of the vision, the delegation informed the Governor of the benefits of the project to Benue people and the nation at large. The project, when completed, will boost electricity supply, provide direct and indirect employment to over 2000 people, promote economic growth, irrigation agriculture, and control about 25% of floods in the state.
There is no doubt that Senator Suswam is a visionary leader. During the 9th National Assembly, he sponsored the 2023 Electricity Bill, which was signed by President Bola Tinubu into law (Electricity Act 2023). This Act, among other things, is to open the space for state governments to take a leading role in a corroborative relationship with the federal government in renewable electri