The Federal Government on Saturday commenced the payment of compensation to the 98 communities affected by the Zungeru Hydro Electric Power Project in Niger.
The state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Abdulmalik Cheche, disclosed this in Minna while addressing the people of the affected communities on how to go about documentation and payment of the compensation.
“The federal government is working round the clock to fulfill its obligation by compensating you, so as to fast-track the completion of the Zungeru dam project within the stipulated period,’’ he said.
He said the payment, which would be made in batches, would be based on proximity of the communities to the dam site.
Cheche, who is also the Chairman of the project Compensation and Relocation Committee, explained that the change in the mode of payment was due to security issues.
The chairman, who did not disclose the financial implication of the exercise, said payments are being made in order to enable the contractors carry out uninterrupted construction works.
He appealed to the people to exercise patience as government was working out modalities toward ensuring full payment of their compensation.
(NAN)