Bauchi seeks FG’s support for power, water plants

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By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi.
Yankari Independent Power Project in Bauchi state inherited from the immediate past Yuguda administration but abandoned at the early stage of conception would soon be a reality, courtesy of external facility support by China Exim Bank and the federal Government.
The State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar has this week met President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja to fine-tune the execution of the power project capable of turning around the economic fortunes and boosting the social milieu of Bauchi state.
Abubakar had shortly after meeting President Buhari and Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, told the press that the state government’s efforts were necessitated by the need for Bauchi to source for money as the proposed plant has the capacity to generate power needed for both industrial and domestic use as well as its ability to facilitate the generation of multiple jobs to the unemployed.
“The Yankari independent power project which on completion will provide 110 megawatts of electricity to Bauchi and neighbouring states is being pushed to logical conclusion through a facility of the China Eximbank that is required which has initially been approved but abandoned midway”, he said.
Governor Abubakar stated that “This power plant abandoned project needs to be actualized and I appealed to the President on behalf of the people of Bauchi State, to include it in the projects to be discussed with the China Exim Bank in his visit to China later in the year”.
The second issue over which the Governor Abubakar sought the support of the President is the Bauchi Urban Water Improvement Plant through a facility obtained from the World Bank which also requires the support of the federal government to secure it.
According to the Governor, his administration needs that facility to provide adequate water running into millions of gallons every day to the growing population of Bauchi that is increasing as a result of the migration from crisis-plaque neighbouring states in the Northeast sub-region.
Abubakar, who observed that airports in the country are usually owned by the Federal Government, but regretted that the Bauchi International Airport built by the Bauchi State government has not been taken over and the cost repaid by the federal government.
He explained that with the pressing need for government to scout for resources for project execution his administration is pursuing the refund of the cost of constructing the airport incurred by the State, stressing that effort by previous administration for the federal government to take over the airport and refund the state government did not come to fruition.
Governor Abubakar revealed that the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has confirmed the existence of the projects in Bauchi State and assured that the China – Exim Bank facility to Bauchi State Government project is one of the issues to be discussed during the President’s visit to China.
Abubakar said that the World Bank project for which disbursement of money to the state has started is ongoing, as all the projects are on course, and assured that he will push them to logical conclusion while working assiduously for actualization of his restoration agenda.

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