Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has expressed optimism that the 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydro-electricity Generation Project will be delivered on scheduled by December 2019.

Also, former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Philip Aduda has said that the nation’s fourth hydro-electricity generating station would grossly improve power supply when completed in the next 25 months.

Sani-Bello and Aduda gave these assurances shortly after an unscheduled inspection to the power plant in Zungeru, Wushishi Local Government area of Niger State.

The Governor, who expressed satisfaction at the level of work at the multi-million Naira power plant, said that "with the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to this project and the pace at which work is in progress on site, I am sure we shall meet the December 2019 deadline for delivery of the plant.

“The level of work done compared to when I visited the dam site last is quiet enormous and encouraging. With what I have seen today and with the briefs by the consultant, official of Ministry of Power and the contractor, I am sure that we are on course. The project will be delivered as scheduled."

Sani-Bello then commended the resettlement and payment of compensation to the affected communities by the Federal Government and said his administration has put in place a committee to interface with the contractor and the hosting communities with a view to resolving any differences that may arise in the course of the construction.

“We are conscious of the importance of this project not only to our people, but for the nation, that is why we put in place a committee to interface with the communities and the contractors. We don’t want anything to delay the delivery of this project. All hands must be on deck to ensure that we have a hitch free operation on site and for the project to be delivered on scheduled,” the Governor enjoined.

Aduda, whose committee midwived the ground breaking ceremony of the project, was elated at the progress made so far on the project and expressed optimism that the first turbine of the power plant will be fired by December 2019.

Aduda, who is still a member of the Senate committee, said: "I was here about three months ago. I have followed the progress made on this plant. I was the Chairman Senate Committee on Power when the ground breaking of the plant was done and I look with nostalgia the tremendous progress made from then till now. I am convinced that the first turbine of the plant will be fired by December 2019.

“When we are done with this project, we will be able to inject 700 megawatts of power to the national grid and this will go a long way in improving the power sector.”

Earlier Engineer Shetima Hassan, an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, informed the Governor of the made despite some minor challenges which were attended to with the collaboration of the standing committee put in place by the state government.

The Project Consultant, Mr. Mchel Jubram also assured the governor that work was in progress and that the plant will be delivered as scheduled.

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