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The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) has described Nigeria’s victory in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration over the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project as a significant development for the country’s finances and power sector.
An ICC tribunal in Paris ruled in Nigeria’s favour on September 17, 2026, rejecting claims brought by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited in disputes linked to the long-delayed Mambilla project in Taraba State.
Sunrise had pursued a claim of about $2.35 billion over the project, while a related proceeding involved a further $400 million claim arising from a disputed settlement agreement. The combined claims have been reported at about $3.38 billion.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Ahmad Sajoh, and Secretary, Danjuma Sada, TSF said the ruling could have implications beyond the immediate legal dispute.
According to the group, the decision removes a major financial and legal uncertainty surrounding one of Nigeria’s most ambitious power projects.
“For Nigeria’s economy, the decision represents the avoidance of a potentially substantial financial liability, the recovery of legal costs and, potentially, the removal of a long-standing legal obstacle to one of the country’s most ambitious power projects,” the forum said.
The tribunal also ordered Sunrise Power and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria 75 per cent of its legal fees and expenses incurred during the arbitration. The amount was put at about $11.82 million.
TSF said the Mambilla project has for years represented a major opportunity for Nigeria’s energy sector, but noted that the prolonged dispute had contributed to uncertainty around the project.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while announcing the arbitration outcome, said the ICC ruling had cleared what he described as the “single biggest legal hurdle” that had delayed the Mambilla hydropower project for years.
The forum linked the development to broader efforts by the Federal Government to address challenges in the electricity sector, including inherited financial obligations.
It said the government’s reported plan to settle ₦3.3 trillion in verified legacy power-sector obligations makes the arbitration outcome particularly significant from a fiscal perspective.
TSF argued that avoiding the claims could give the government additional fiscal space to focus on outstanding obligations and longer-term reforms in the electricity sector.
The forum also said successful development of Mambilla could have wider economic implications by increasing electricity supply and supporting productive sectors including manufacturing, mining, agriculture and technology.
According to the group, improved electricity availability could also encourage new businesses, investment and employment opportunities.
TSF further said the arbitration outcome could send a signal to international investors that Nigeria is prepared to defend its interests through established international dispute-resolution mechanisms while maintaining contractual and legal safeguards.
The forum urged the Federal Government to build on the ruling by accelerating the next phase of the Mambilla project while ensuring transparency, commercial discipline and strong contractual protections.
The Mambilla project has undergone several changes over the years. The originally proposed project was designed at a much larger capacity, while the government has subsequently rescaled the project as part of efforts to make it financially viable and bankable.
