Niger Community Seeks FG’s Payment Of N1.1trn Judgement Debt

Federal government has been called upon to obey the recent judgement of a Niger State High Court sitting in Minna, which ordered the government to pay the sum of N1.1 trillion judgement debt to Samboro community for the destruction of their livelihoods and forceful eviction
A civil society group, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), stated this during a press conference yesterday in Abuja.
CLO said it was invoking its power of advocacy under its democracy and governance mandate to draw local and international attention to the prevailing plight of the inhabitants of Samboro community in Madaka District, Rafi local government area of Niger State.

The group said the people of Samboro were forcefully ejected and displaced from their communal land following an alleged poor design and construction of the Zungeru Hydro-electric Power Dam in the state.
The group stated that the construction of the Dam was awarded to a consortium of Chinese firms by the federal government through the federal ministry of mines and power.
Speaking during the media parley, executive director of the CLO, Ibuchukwu Ezike said the organisation has put in place series of activities to ensure the federal government obey the court order which granted succour to inhabitants of Samboro community by awarding the sum of N1.1 Trillion to them for the destruction of their entire livelihoods and forceful eviction.

According to the group, trouble started for the community when Zungeru Hydro- Electric Dam overflowed and released unimaginable volume of water into the community and within hours and days, washed away the livelihood and homes of the inhabitants.
As the devastating effects of the Dam raged, the organisation alleged that the federal government failed to come to the aid of its own people who were left to survive on their own.