The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to fulfilling its obligations to the payment of full compensation to communities displaced as a result of the construction of the 700 megawatts hydroelectric power project in the Zungeru area of Niger State. The government however emphasised the need for genuine identity of the affected communities, saying over 300 communities have come out to lay claims for compensation and resettlement after the initial agreed figure....Read Full Article >>➤
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu made this known during a meeting with the Compensation and Resettlement Committee of the Zungeru power plant in his office in Abuja on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. While appreciating the gesture of the host communities and that of the Niger State Government in locating the power project, Adelabu decried a situation where communities within the location of the power project will come to make claim for compensation over the location.
According to the minister, there were only 133 communities that were identified by the Ministry of Power when the Zungeru power project was to be sited.
He expressed surprised during the engagement, when over 200 communities were however added to those originally slated for compensation and resettlement.
He admonished the committee, led by Niger State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba Minna to prevail on the people of the area to cooperate with the federal government as the details of the outstanding payments were being worked out.
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Adelabu said: “I want to plead with the committee, the host communities and all other interested parties that we should realise that this is a national asset for all of us and in as much as the federal government is willing and ready to meet its obligations to the affected communities, they must also be ready and be sincere, in their demands and claims.
“However, it is a big surprise here to me that some communities are being added afresh to those who should be compensated or resettled. We are looking forward to how we can resettle this matter.
“Those who are yet to be paid are agitated and are putting pressure on the state government and the committee. We can no longer keep them assured and so, let me say that whatever we have will be paid in the shortest possible time.
“I’m happy that we have been able to pay N22 billion out of the compensation and from our records, we have N2.2 billion remaining for payment. Some new figures have been presented here today, but we will have to go back as a ministry, to verify these claims.
“Let us all bear it in mind that the federal government is facing paucity of funds. There are very many issues competing for government attention and we have to address them according to what is available to us in terms of revenue.”
The minister also called on the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Bureau of Public Enterprise (PBE) to come to the aid of the Ministry of Power in addressing the compensation and resettlement issues as they affect the Zungeru power project host communities issues.
On his part, the deputy governor expressed the appreciation of his principal and the people of Niger State for the project and their readiness to cooperate with the federal government to ensure its success. ...Read Full Article >>➤
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