Zungeru youths kicks against call for renaming of hydro-electric dam project
The Zungeru Youths Development Association Niger state has kicked against the called made to the Federal government by Coalition of Shiroro Association to rename the 700 mega watts Zungeru dam located in Wushishi local government area of the state.
The news conference was jointly conveyed by Mr Ammar Abubakar, Spokesperson of the Association and Idris Abubakar, President of the Association.
It will be recalled that the Coalition of Shiroro Association had on August 2021 called on the Federal government to rename Zungeru dam to “Shiroro dam II or Mata dam, claiming that the dam was housed by lands in Shiroro.
The youths in Zungeru, however disagreed with such claims by Coalition of Shiroro Associations, saying that the dam was located within Wushishi local government area and majority of communities submerged were within the council area.
“Gungu community and all the displaced settlers are now settled in new Gungu, an area in Wushishi local government area,” he said.
The conveners noted that there was possibility or probability that the construction of the dam affected some neighboring areas around Wushishi local government area, but believed that the Federal paid compensations to countless number of settlers.
They said the Land Use Act of 1978 sections 28 and 29 provides for government the power to revoke rights of occupancy over land especially for overriding public interest, adding that Coalition of Shiroro Associations cannot dictate to government on what to name the dam.
They said that the resettlement areas of the affected people in Shiroro were cited in Zungeru community, adding that the long silence of the people of Zungeru was not as a result of fear amidst perennial insecurity but for national peace.
They noted that the country was already challenged with insecurity and was not time for Coalition of Shiroro Associations to add to the already existing security threat, urging them to have a rethink and put national interest above personal interest.
They said the Zungeru dam project was a national property meant to benefit all Nigerians and called on lawmakers representing the area in the national and state assemblies to wake up to their responsibilities to address the issue before it gets out of hand.
The association, however, disclosed that the construction of the Zungeru dam had exposed Zungeru community to more security threats as bandits now have easy access from Akare to cross over freely to attack the community.
They added that the dam project had also affected economy activities in Zungeru and environs such as fishing and dry season farming as well as affected supply of portable drinking water, adding that the community placed priority to national development above personal interest.
