The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has revealed that the Federal Government has disbursed a staggering N22 billion in compensation to communities displaced by the country’s 700-megawatt hydroelectric power project in Zungeru, Niger State.
This significant announcement came during a recent meeting with the Compensation and Resettlement Committee of the Zungeru power plant in his Abuja office.
Adelabu also reassured that funds totaling approximately N2.2 billion would soon be released to the remaining communities awaiting compensation.
He shared that at the outset of the Zungeru power project, 133 communities were slated for compensation or resettlement.
However, the figure has unexpectedly soared to over 300 communities.
“I’m pleased to announce that we have successfully paid N22 billion in compensation so far, and based on our records, only N2.2 billion remains. New figures were presented to us today, but we must first verify them before moving forward,” he said.
“It’s important to note that the Federal Government is grappling with limited funds, and there are numerous other urgent matters competing for attention. We must prioritize them according to the available revenue.”
In a rather surprising twist, Adelabu lamented that the number of affected communities had tripled, adding complexity to the situation.
“It’s quite unexpected that additional communities have been included in the list of those requiring compensation or resettlement,” he remarked.
It’s worth noting that in March of the previous year, a court in Minna, Niger State, ruled that the federal government should pay a massive N1.1 trillion in compensation to the displaced communities affected by the Zungeru power plant project.