The Federal Government has restated 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 Zungeru, Niger State.
However, the government noted the need for genuine identity of the affected communities as over 300 communities have come out to lay claims for compensation and resettlement after the initial agreed figure.
Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, made this known when he met with the Compensation and Resettlement Committee of the Zungeru power plant in his office in Abuja.
According to a statement from the ministry, while appreciating the gesture of the host communities and that of the Niger State government in locating the power project, the Minister decried a situation where communities within the location of the power project will all come to make claim for compensation over the location.
Adelabu also added that there were only 133 communities identified by the Ministry of Power when the Zungeru power project was to be sited.
He showed surprise during the engagement, when over 200 communities were however added to those originally slated for compensation and resettlement.
He then urged the committee, led by the Deputy Governor Alhaji Yakubu Garba Minna, to plead with the people of the area to cooperate with the Federal Government as the details of the outstanding payments were being worked out.
