The vice president’s spokesperson announced on Tuesday that Nigeria had approved the construction of a 1,650 megawatt (MW) hydroelectric facility at a cost of $3 billion, making it one of the nation’s largest single power projects.
The project would be funded through a public-private partnership and be located in the northwest state of Benue. Laolu Akande, vice president Yemi Osinbanjo’s spokesperson, said in a statement.
Akande did not say when construction would start. Increasing power supply is expected to top the agenda of the successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, who steps down after elections next year.
Large numbers of residences and companies are dependent on diesel generators in Africa’s largest economy due to insufficient power output and a lack of adequate transmission infrastructure.
Authorities said last week that the government would give a concession to manage the $1.3 billion hydroelectric facility in Zungeru, which was funded by China and is scheduled to start producing energy in the first quarter of 2019.
