Senate Confirms Sambo For Appointment As Minister

The Senate yesterday screened and cleared Muazu Sambo for appointment as a minister.

President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated him for Senate’s consideration and confirmation as a minister.

The nominee was cleared, following his screening by the Committee of the Whole at the Senate.

He promised to tackle the challenges militating against the take-off of the Mambilla Power Project.

Sambo made the promise while answering questions from senators during his screening at yesterday’s plenary.

His nomination came weeks after the erstwhile Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Sabo Nanono, and his Power counterpart, Saleh Mamman, were sacked by the President.

Although no reason was given for the termination of their appointments, their tenure, especially Mamman’s, witnessed little or no improvement in the Power sector as electricity supply situation across the country did not record noticeable improvement.

Though it is not clear last night if Sambo would head the Power Ministry, he assured the Senate that he was aware of the issues frustrating the take-off of the power project and how to resolve them within a year.

The take-off of the Mabilla Power Project has been stalled for years.

Before he was sacked, Mamman had said the project would be completed by 2030 to add 1,525 megawatts (MW) of power to the installed generating capacity.

“I share your sentiment with the lack of progress we have witnessed over the Mambilla project. It has been on since the First Republic.

“If in 2021, we are still talking about the project not taking off. It is sad for Nigeria.

“The major constraints about the project have been the arbitration case in Paris. There must be a way we can compensate the company that took us to court.

“If confirmed by this Senate, I will definitely make a difference on the Mambilla project within one year. I know what the problem is and I can crack it.

“The problem is human. I have delivered successful multi-billion dollar projects in the last 35 years. It is not new,” Sambo said.