Niger Dep. Gov. Supervises Payment of Compensation to the Affected People of Zingeru Dam Project.
The Chairman, Zungeru Dam Project Compensation Committee, Comrade Yakubu Garba, pays an unscheduled visit to the sub-committee responsible for the payment of the compensation to supervise the ongoing payment exercise at the Progress Court in Minna, Niger State.
It may be recalled that the 700 MW Zungeru Dam Project started in May 2013. The power plant is the second biggest hydro electric power plant in Nigeria, and it is estimated to generate 2.64 billion kWh of electricity a year, which will meet close to 10% of Nigeria’s total domestic energy needs.
The project was initially expected to take 60 months (5 years) for completion. However, legal and financial issues relating to compensation and resettlement of the affected people had delayed the project commissioning.
With the coming of His Excellency Farmer Muhammad Umaru Bago’s led administration, the administration has vowed to put to rest incessant issues arising from the project. Consequently, the committee has introduced new policies in the payment procedures with a view to addressing some of the issues. The chairman applauded the committee members for complying with the new policies to the latter.
“The Muhammad Umaru Bago led administration is a Government that was not only conceived and birthed by the masses but represents the aged long dreams and aspirations of the ordinary people in the State.
Therefore, this administration is not taking this for granted nor treats the largely looming love and support with levity. The Government wishes to reassure the people that any pain inflicted on those displaced by the project is a missile against the very essence of this Government, as such the Government shall stop at nothing to ensure that those displaced by the project cool their heels in their new resettlement homes in no distant time” the chairman stated.
Ummikhaltume Abdullahi Kuta
Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Niger State.
14th/02/2024.
