Zungeru: Youth groups disagree over name of hydro electric dam

The Zungeru Youths Development Association, Niger State has condemned the call by the Coalition of Shiroro Association to rename the 700 megawatts Zungeru dam located in Wushishi local government area of the state.

The group through their spokesman, Mr Ammar Abubakar, and President, Idris Abubakar stated this at a press conference in Zungeru, Wushishi LG.

Recall the Coalition of Shiroro Association had on August 2021 called on the Federal government to rename Zungeru dam to “Shiroro dam II or Mata dam, arguing that the dam is being hosted by lands in Shiroro.

But the youths of Zungeru, disagreed with such claims by the Coalition, insisting that the dam was stationed within Wushishi LG and majority of communities submerged were within the council area.

They claimed that the Gungu community and all the displaced settlers are currently in new Gungu, an area in Wushishi LG.

The conveners maintained,” the Land Use Act of 1978 sections 28 and 29 provide for government the power to revoke rights of occupancy over land, especially for overriding public interest.

”The Coalition of Shiroro Associations cannot dictate to the government on what to name the dam”.

The leaders of the group revealed that the construction of the Zungeru dam had exposed Zungeru community to more security threats as bandits now have easy access from Akare to cross over freely to attack the community.

According to them,” the dam project had also affected economic activities in Zungeru and environs such as fishing and dry season farming as well as affected supply of portable drinking water, adding that the community placed priority to national development above personal interest”.