Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the completion of the 700MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project in Niger State.
The Governor gave the commendation when he joined the Minister of Power, Eng. Abubakar Aliyu and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Gabriel Suswam on a fact-finding visit to the facility.
He described the project as excellent, adding that the Hydroelectric Dam being the fourth in the state would benefit the surrounding communities and ensure access to more electricity to the people of the state and beyond.
“We will have more access to electricity, the project will provide great opportunities even for the communities around as they will benefit from training, job opportunities and more”, he said.
The Governor added that the state government is doing everything possible to secure the project adding that at 99% percent, the project was ready for commissioning.
“We have been engaging the traditional title holders to serve as intermediaries between the government and the communities.
“As we move on, I believe more opportunities will come like some forms of Irrigation, the commencement of commercial activities they are all to the benefit of the communities”, he said.
The Minister of Power Eng. Aliyu also applauded the Muhammadu Buhari led administration for sustaining and completing the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project which he said it’s type was last constructed in 1960.
“Kudos to this government, Kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the construction and completion of this project. Adding 700MW to the national grid is a huge success.The last time a big dam like this was constructed was in 1960”
He said the work has been completed and all necessary measures are being put in place at the National Council of Privitazation to tidy up the concession deal with Mainstream Energy, the preferred bidder.
The Senate Committee Chairman on power, Sen. Gabriel Suswam explained that, the members of the National Assembly had doubts about the concessioning of the project and did not want Nigerians to be short-changed, hence, they started an investigation on the circumstances surrounding the concessioning of the project.
He said with what they have seen, we are satisfied and will inform the Senate about their findings.
“We are satisfied with what we have seen and the concessioning should go on unhindered so that Nigerians can get the benefit of the money expended here.
“We were concerned about the transmission line but we’ve seen the 330 is connected here and the 132 is almost completed which means that the concessioning is as good as a done deal and we are very satisfied with that”.
Sen. Suswam added that at this point, the project was ready to be commissioned as all components of the dam have been fixed.
The Zungeru Power Dam which has a height of 95m and is located on River Kaduna is the first dam to be constructed using Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) technology, four of the turbine have been completed each with 175 MGW, it has four water spillways.
The 330KV Switchyard at Mararaba has been completed and the 132kv Tegina Substation is ongoing and will soon be completed.
Places visited included, the reservoir, control room, 330 KV switch yard that connects power generated from Jebba, shiroro and now Zungeru to the Natioanl Grid, and Mararaba Switch yard among others
