The federal government has granted a license to use the water to Messrs. Mabon Limited, a hydropower generation company, through the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC).
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Ms. Didi Walson-Jack, in her opening remarks on the occasion in Abuja, congratulated the Minister for granting a one-year moratorium to the company in addition to the license .
Waison-Jack, said the long-term viability of the business was necessary and would have a multiplier effect on the economy of the nation as a whole.
“We welcome you aboard as a key player in hydropower generation and the first indigenous enterprise in the development of the water resources sector in Nigeria, while looking forward to more successful years of partnership.
“I urge you to use your license for the purposes for which it was granted, as set out in the terms and conditions of the license.
“The one-year moratorium would result in the confiscation of the sum of 22 848 480 N only, as cumulative income from water royalties, but the Minister in his magnanimity considers that the lasting viability of your company is necessary”, she added.
The Executive Director of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, Mr. Magashi Bashir, in his welcoming speech stressed the need for regulatory oversight over water withdrawals and water-related activities. are water allocation and water use permits or licensing systems.
“The paradigm shift in approaching the nation’s water resources development from traditional practices to global best practices in water regulation requires the establishment of an appropriate legal and institutional framework and policies to drive the process.
“The commission is set for another milestone with the issuance of a license to Messrs. Mabon Limited, I feel very happy as this is the first time we have given to a giant hydroelectric power generation company.
“We have a monitoring department that will work to see that the company is doing what is expected of them.
Dr Cyril Christopher, Managing Director of Mabon Limited, welcomed the receipt of the Water Use Permit while congratulating the Minister, Permanent Secretary, Executive Secretary and NIWRMC Bureau for awarding him this honor.
“Currently, we are generating from Gombe, God was on our side, before we started generating, we took a lot of young people off the streets, we brought them to the site and hired them; we are doing it as a community service and we will continue.
“More than 300 young people have been trained and employed by Mabon, have benefited directly and indirectly from this service, we have also taken care of their health needs and have also drilled boreholes to provide water to the community.
As long as we have enough water in the reservoir, we will continue to generate electricity, ”he said. (NAN)
