President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, kick-started the N162.9 billion Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project in Niger State.
Jonathan said the hydro dam project when constructed would generate 700 Mega Watts of electricity for the country.
According to him, the Zungeru Hydro Electricity Power Project was
conceived 32 years ago in 1982, but due to constraints of funds the
construction work could not commence.
Jonathan said his administration had now solved the financial
challenge, which was holding the construction of the dam, by making
funds available to build it.
He explained that it was in 1982 that the former National Electricity
Power Authority, NEPA, identified the potentials of hydroelectric dam
in Zungeru.
The president said the event was a history making one, because the
power plant would be the largest to be built by his administration.
He listed employment opportunities, agricultural development, and tourism as benefits from the dam.
He said exportation of perishable food through the Minna Airport
would also be a benefit from the dam, adding that the airport would be
revitalised because of the construction of the dam.
Jonathan called on the people of the state to give him their support
to ensure that the project went on smoothly for the period of four years
the construction would last.
The Governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu, expressed
appreciation to the president for making funds available for the project
under the Power Sector Intervention Fund.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Power for its readiness to pay
appropriate compensations and the resettlement of persons affected by
the project.
Aliyu assured the president of the full cooperation of the people of Niger to ensure that the project went on smoothly.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said the Zungeru Power
Project was now a reality due to the uncommon courage and determination
shown by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Nebo said the project when completed would open new frontiers to
drive the socio-economic transformation of the entire country to another
level.
He explained that 1.72 billion dollars counterpart funding was
recently approved for the sector by the National Economic Council.
According to him, the money is for the Zungeru Hydroelectricity,
Gurara 2 Dam in Suleja all in Niger State, and the Mambilla Dam in
Taraba.
The Minister for State for Power, Hajia Zainab Kuchi, said that the
Zungeru Dam was conceived about 30 years ago, adding that the first
feasibility study done on the project was by Messrs Chas T. Main
International of USA.
Kuchi said that the contract project was given to Messrs SYNOHYDRO
Corporation/China Nation Electrical Engineering Corporation Consortium
for N162.9 billion.
She added that the project would provide so many economic and social
opportunities such as skill acquisition and the training of the members
of the communities in the area.
----vanguard
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