Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku on Friday inaugurated the 400kW Tunga Dam Small Hydro Power Plant put in place to provide electricity to Mambilla Beverages Company and its environs.
The power plant, which was constructed by the state government in collaboration with United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) was initiated in 2001 to boost the operation of the tea company so as to enhance the economic wellbeing of refugees repatriated from Cameroon.
Over 10,000 people who were displaced by the crisis that occurred in the area in 2001 were repatriated from Cameroon by UNHCR; majority of whom resides in Kakara, Kusuku, Galadima, Nguroje and Kurmi and largely depend on the factory for sustenance.
According to Ishaku, the facility was key to the implementation of his rescue mission in the state as it was geared towards enhancing economic activities of the people on the mambilla plateau.
The governor, who was elated on the occasion being the first project he would inaugurate since assuming office expressed his readiness and commitment to partner with the UN agencies to increase the capacity of the plant as well as construct another plant in order to supply uninterrupted electricity to all the communities on the plateau and the state at large.
“I am so delighted that the first project I am inaugurating as a governor is very key to my rescue mission in the state and I hereby pledge the total commitment of the state government in partnering with the concern arms of the UN to put in place another plant to supply electricity to more communities in the state,” he stated.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Angele Dikongue-Atangana, the UNHCR representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS stated that UNHCR saw the need to join forces with the Taraba State government to provide funds for the construction and installation of the 400kW Small Hydro Power Scheme in order to reverse the generalised slowdown in economic activities, unemployment and hardship at the Highland Tea Factory and its plantations.
Represented by Mr Cesar Tshilombo, Dikongue-Atangana said about 50, 000 people depended on the Mambilla Beverages Nigeria Ltd for their existence and survival, including the over 6,000 tea plantations in the communities.
