By; Bala B. Bitrus, Minna.
Three years into work on Nigeria’s fourth hydro electric power station, the Zungeru Power Plant, communities whose lands were taken to build the hydro electric dam are set to smile as federal government releases funds for compensation.
Uneasy calm had pervaded the entire communities, host to the hydroelectric dams sites. And to avert further suspense and possible implosion from the communities, Niger state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello Wednesday raised a 24 man strong committee to liaise between the affected communities and the federal government in ensuring due compensation is paid to each of the families whose farmlands were taken over for the hydroelectric generating station.
Governor Bello assured the communities that his administration would do everything possible to ensure that they were adequately compensated for their farmlands which were displaced by the hydro electricity generating station.
There have been accusations, hues and cries from the villages hosting the site for the hydroelectric dam over federal government’s refusal to pay them a dime for their lands taken over.
But to douse their fears and remove their pent up emotions, Governor Bello said the federal government would compensate and resettle the affected communities hosting the dam.
While inaugurating the 24 man committee for the payment of compensation at Government House on Wednesday, the Governor reaffirmed federal government’s commitment to be just and fair to all.
The state Governor said he is committed to seeing that the rights of the people were given to them. “We will ensure that the communities who gave their farmlands are those who are compensated and or resettled before work on the hydroelectric dam is completed” he said.
He said it was not the intention of the federal government that pain, hardship and unnecessary suffering was visited on the communities who forfeited their ancestral lands and homes to make room for the hydro power station.
“This administration would ensure that the communities affected by the sitting of the dam are adequately compensated” he declared.
Governor Bello disclosed that the Niger state government was also liaising with the federal government to ensure that besides enhancing Nigeria’s power sector, the federal government also improves on the living conditions of all citizens in the state as host state for the country’s hydroelectric dams”.
He told the communities that government would similarly look into some of the challenges bedevilling them especially in the areas of healthcare delivery system, education,, security, economic empowerment, roads and infrastructure provision.
The Governor told the communities that the state was aware of the uneasy calm and disquiets amongst them over the sitting of the hydroelectric dam, hence the setting up of the committee to ensure justice to them.
“We are aware there have been lots of uneasy disquiet amongst these communities in respect to the hydroelectric dam located in their area. That is why we set up this committee because we want them to be adequately compensated and or resettled” he said.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the confidence reposed in him to mediating between the federal government and the host communities to the hydroelectric dams.
He similarly applauded the Minister of Works and Power, Babatunde Fashola for the role he played in fulfilling his pledge to make funds available to compensate the affected communities.
Governor Bello charged the committee members to ensure accountability and probity in listing all bona fide beneficiaries of the compensation funds to avoid any backlash and complaint of shortchange or any underhand deal
“Your job calls for prudence, meticulousness and uprightness. Your duties include establishing modalities for compensation, settlement and relocation of all affected members of the communities where the need arises”.
The committee is to do a house to house verification of beneficiaries, ensuring each member of the community is paid and relocated from the plains of the areas of the dams.
The state’s Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Abdulmalik Cheche is to head the committee while, Yakubu Bello is to serve as secretary.
