Group cries out over Zungeru hydro-electric power project’s compensation

The Concerned Shiroro Youths cried out over compensation to communities affected by the Zungeru hydro-electric power project in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state.
Mr Bello Ibrahim, Co-convener of the youth forum, made this known to newsmen on Monday in Minna.
Ibrahim alleged that aside the non-payment of the compensation some communities that received inadequate payments.
“It is on record that, while some people’s properties including lands and houses were grossly undervalued which resulted in inadequate compensation, some people were not compensated at all.
“Assessment and valuation conducted on crops, structures and economic trees were not in tandem with the international best practices on exercise of this magnitude,” he said.
He said that there were series of complaints emanating from affected voiceless victims regarding the way and manner the enumeration in the build up to the construction of the dam was carried out.
“Based on our thorough findings, many people were not captured during enumeration and up till date, their issues have not been revisited. For instance, Layi is a village under Gijiwa/Kato ward in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.
“It is one of the many villages affected by Zungeru dam construction, though captured during enumeration but have not been compensated as required or expected whenever exercise of this nature is being carried out,” he said.
The Co- convener said that the people of the area have lost virtually all their belongings including farmlands, houses, among others.
“In the meantime, the inhabitants are without shelters; only very few of them have managed to erect makeshift huts where they are currently taking refuge.
“Ironically, due to government’s inactions, crass complacency and negligence, people have become refugees in their ancestral lands without any remedy in sight,” he said.
Ibrahim said that there are many other villages in the area facing similar challenges, while the experiences of some other villages are with slight difference.
The Group demanded that both the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) should immediately reach out to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the area.
They demanded that a committee be constituted with members from Civil Societies Organizations (CSOs) domiciled in Shiroro, journalists and other critical stakeholders to investigate the amount the federal government provided for the resettlement and to whom it was paid to.
The 700 megawatts (940,000 hp) hydro-electric dam with an expected 2021 date of completion, would be the second-largest hydro-electric power station in the country, behind the 760 megawatts (1,020,000 hp) Kainji hydro-electric power station.
According to the blueprint of the project, it was estimated to generate 2.64 billion kWh of electricity a year, which would meet close to 10 per cent of Nigeria’s total domestic energy need.
The project also intends to provide flood control, irrigation, as well as water supply and fish breeding facilities for the locals.
Reacting Dr Yakubu Bello, Secretary, Committee on Compensation, Relocation and Resettlement of people affected by the project, said that the committee has not received any complaint regarding payment of compensation.
“This committee was set up by the Federal Ministry of Power and saddled with the responsibility of compensation, relocation and resettlement of people affected by the construction of the Zungeru hydro-electric dam.
“As I speak with you now we have not received any complain regarding non-payment and inadequate payment of compensation by individuals, communities and any group affected by the construction of the dam,” he said.
Bello, who said that the committee has the list of the communities and individuals that had been compensated, urged the concerned youth to channel their grievances to the appropriate authority for necessary action.