Zungeru Hydro Plant: Host Communities Allege Compensation Scam

From Saka Bolaji, Minna

Communities whose ancestral hosts the on-going Zungeru Hydro electricity Dam construction under the auspices of Gbedegun Development Association have alleged a hijack of their compensation by non- indigenes and called for a redress.
They expressed their dismay over the development at Kamata village in Shiroro local government at a meeting held with representative from the entire 35 communities affected.
The purpose of the meeting was to find a way forward. However, the communities lauded the state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, for setting up a committee for compensation, relocation and settlement of the affected communities.
The Community representative in the state committee, Sallau Pango Danladi, explained that the compensation is categorized into three parts: economic trees and farmlands, structures and resettlement centre.
Investigation revealed that the three Emirates of Minna, Kontagora and Kagara involved had earlier failed to spell out the actual communities involved hence the hijack by intruders and the formation of the association to ensure peaceful compensation devoid of adequate coverage.
The Niger State government had earlier set up a 24-man committee sequel to the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari which is led by the Commissioner of Works and Transport, Abdulmalik Usman Cheche.
Rejectin the proposed idea to start building enumeration by the valuers, the communities insisted that compensation for farmlands and economic trees should be completed before the commencement of the enumeration of buildings to avoid future problems.
In his remarks, Chairman of the association, Mohammed Sarki, said that the association must be involved by the state and federal government committees because they represent the entire communities.
He therefore called for patient, tolerance and assured that the compensation was a continuous process and no one would be deliberately omitted from the compensation.
District Head of Kamata, Idrisu Ahmadu, appreciated the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello for his exemplary leadership added that the association was leaving to their expectations for which it was created.