Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba on Friday inaugurated the 400 kilowatt Tunga Dam Small Hydro Power Plant that would provide electricity to more than 10, 000 people on the Mambila Plateau.
The power plant would also supply electricity to Kakara Highland Tea Factory which currently services more than 56, 000 people including farmers..
The project was executed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) and the Taraba Government.
Ishaku said the project was in line with his administration’s vision to enhance economic activities across the state.
He said the government would continue to partner with relevant UN agencies to provide electricity to more communities in the state.
“I am so delighted that the first project I am inaugurating as a governor is very key to my rescue mission in the state.
“I hereby pledge total commitment of the state government for partnership with concerned arms of the UN for another plant to supply electricity to more communities in the state,” he said.
Mrs Angele Dikongue-Atangana, the UNHCR Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, explained that the project was conceived to enhance the living standard of the over 10,000 Nigerians repatriated to the area from Cameroon in 2001.
Represented by Mr Cesar Tshilombo, the UNHR official said about 50, 000 people including 6,000 tea farmers in the community depend on the Kakara tea factory for survival.
She urged the people to live in peace with one another in order to attract development to their community.
On his part, Mr Chuma Ezedinma of UNIDO Regional Office in Abuja said the organization was happy to be part of the project, which was essentially meant to support productive activities in the state.
Ezedinma said the regional office had discovered over 200 potential hydro power sites in Nigeria that were ready for development.
