By Ediri Ejoh 

Barely 24 hours after its collapse, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, the operators of the Kainji, Jebba, and Zungeru hydropower plants, has engaged swiftly the repaires of the Sabon Pegi Bridge.

The development, according the company, was due to heavy rainfall on Friday.

In a statement obtained by Vanguard, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had previously issued warnings of heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding over the weekend, which were accompanied by thunderstorms.

Signed by Olugbenga Adebola, Head, Corporate Communications, it stated that “The flash floods caused the collapse of the Sabon Pegi Bridge, a vital link between the southwestern and northwestern regions of Nigeria. The incident, reported early on Friday morning, led to confusion among the local communities. Mainstream Energy Solutions was promptly contacted, and the Chairman of the Board immediately approved the company’s intervention to repair the bridge.”

Lauding the company’s swift action, Abdullahi, a local youth, expressed gratitude, saying, “We pray for Mainstream always because there are very few companies in Nigeria that can respond so quickly to such a problem. They are a highly responsible company.”

Responding, Siraj Abdullahi an Executive Director in the Company said “This is what Mainstream is about. We have brought relief and restored the economic artery of the Borgu Land and the Southern Sokoto and Kebbi States”.

“MESL was incorporated and licensed as a power generating company in 2011. The Kainji and Jebba Hydro Plants (HPP) with a total installed capacity of 1338.4 MW were acquired through a concession agreement with the Federal Government of Nigeria in November 2013. The two hydro plants are cascaded 100km apart with Kainji dam situated on the upstream of Jebba.

“The two hydro power plants Kainji and Jebba have installed capacities of 760MW and 578.4MW, respectively. Kainji was commissioned as Nigeria’s first Hydro Power plant in 1968 while the Jebba Hydro Power plant was commissioned in 1985.”