{"id":4382,"date":"2013-05-28T23:31:34","date_gmt":"2013-05-28T23:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/jonathan-flags-off-building-of-700mw-hydro-power-dam\/"},"modified":"2013-05-28T23:31:34","modified_gmt":"2013-05-28T23:31:34","slug":"jonathan-flags-off-building-of-700mw-hydro-power-dam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/jonathan-flags-off-building-of-700mw-hydro-power-dam\/","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan flags off building of 700MW hydro-power dam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday inaugurated the construction of the N162.9 billion Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Project in Niger state that would generate 700MW on completion.<\/p>\n

The president said the project was conceived in 1982 but could not take off due to funding constraints.<\/p>\n

He, however, said his administration had now solved the financial challenge.<\/p>\n

Jonathan said the defunct NEPA identified the potential of hydroelectric dam in Zungeru in 1982.<\/p>\n

“This is a history-making event because the power plant is the largest to be built by this administration,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

He listed employment opportunities, agricultural development, tourism and exportation of perishable food via Minna Airport as some of the derivable benefits of the project. <\/p>\n

\"Goodluck <\/p>\n

Goodluck Jonathan: 700MW hydro-power dam flagged off<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Jonathan called on the people of the state to give him their support to ensure that the project progressed smoothly for the period of four years the construction would last.<\/p>\n

The Governor of Niger, Dr Babangida Aliyu, expressed his appreciation to the president for making funds available for the project under the Power Sector Intervention Fund.<\/p>\n

He commended the Federal Ministry of Power for its readiness to pay appropriate compensations and the resettlement of persons affected by the project.<\/p>\n

Aliyu assured the president of the total cooperation of the people of Niger to ensure that the project progressed smoothly.<\/p>\n

The Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, said the project was now a reality due to the uncommon courage and determination shown by the president.<\/p>\n

Nebo added that the project would open new frontiers to drive the socio-economic transformation of the country to another level.<\/p>\n

He said 1.72 billion dollars counterpart funding was recently approved for the sector by the National Economic Council.<\/p>\n

According to him, the money is for Zungeru hydroelectricity, Gurara2 Dam in Suleja in Niger, and the Mambilla Dam in Taraba.<\/p>\n

The Minister of State for Power, Hajia Zainab Kuchi, said the first feasibility study done on the project was by Messrs Chas T. Main International of the U.S.<\/p>\n

Kuchi explained that the contract was awarded to Messrs SYNOHYDRO Corporation \/ China Nation Electrical Engineering Corporation Consortium at the cost of N162.9 billion.<\/p>\n

She said the project would provide many economic and social opportunities, such as skill acquisition and training for people of the communities.<\/p>\n

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