UNHCR commissions hydro-power project in Taraba

THE Representative of the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana, has said that millions of Nigerians are suffering due to lack of peace in the country.

Atangana, who made this known yesterday through the UNHCR Head of sub-Office, Cesar Mbav Tshilombo, in Kakara Village of Sardauna Local Council of Taraba State during the commissioning of the hydro-power project which The Guardian learnt was financed by the commission, stressed the need for Nigerians, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences, to embrace peace.

Elated by the existing peace in the Mambilla Plateau of the state, the commission admonished Nigerians to borrow leaves from the people “on this beautiful Mambilla Plateau”, noting that “that is why today we are here to commission this very important and all-encompassing project.”

While soliciting for meaningful collaboration between all stakeholders in an effort to continue to protect people suffering from any form of displacement, the need for the communities to strive to live in peace like one people and always avoid any situation that could compromise harmony and lead to unnecessary disputes, clashes and bloodshed, as noted by the commission, can no longer be over-emphasised.

The hydro-power project, which capacity was pegged at 400 megawatts, the commission believed, would go a long way to generate employment for the teeming youths of the community.

According to Atangana: “The scheme is a major source of employment for the entire community, including some 10,000 Nigerians whom UNHCR repatriated from Cameroun whom as made known by her ‘happen to be inhabitants of this area.’”

Rather than behaving like other organisations that will not expand their financial resources to assist the people, UNHCR said they have no choice than to assist the state government to complete the project so as to address youths’ unemployment that was in the past a menace in the area.

“UNHCR saw the need to join force with the Taraba State government to provide funds for the construction and installation of the 400mw small hydro-power scheme that today provides sustainable energy for industrial activities in this company.

The state governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, said the project was dear to his heart because it is one of the projects that were initiated by him while serving as the Minister of State for Power during the last political dispensation.

Ishaku, who said the state government would not drag its feet in ensuring effective collaboration with the UNHCR, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and others, pleaded with the people of the community to avoid acts capable of truncating the existence of the project, as that would accelerate the growth of poverty in the area.