Niger vows to shut down Kainji, Jebba, demands N1 trillion hydrocarbon exchange payment, 13% derivation fund

Adedokun Theophilus

The Niger State Government has demanded payment of the 13% derivation fund, similar to other oil-producing states, and payment of N1 trillion in the next three months for hydrocarbon exchange, warning the Federal Government that the failure to comply with the demands will result in the complete shutdown of both Kanji and Jebba hydro dams.

Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State made the demands for fair compensation in acknowledgment of Niger State’s contribution to the federation, when he received Tijani Aliyu, Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, in Minna, Niger State on Monday.

He said “We will take the Federal Government to the Supreme Court unless the 13 percent derivation from our land, water, air, grass, and everything given to us is paid.”

The Niger State Governor further said that his state deserves to be paid about N1 trillion in compensation for the hydrocarbon exchange being consumed from the state to the Delta region.

He said, “We need 13 percent derivation for water supplied to the Delta.

“Our people are ravaged and displaced year in, year out because of the flow of water from the Niger to the Delta.

“The Federal Government will pay Niger state N1 trillion in the next three months for hydrocarbon exchange, they must.

“We have provided this country with hydropower for a long time; nobody is compensating us for it.

“Abuja Electricity Distribution Company [AEDC] must pay us, they have consumed from Niger state hydrocarbon exchange, and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] must pay us.

“We have woken up, we can never ever tolerate being neglected or abandoned again. The only way we can ensure that the federal government heeds to us is to shut down the hydro dams unless we are paid.

“We are serious about this, it is not a threat; it is a statement. Every dime that is due to us, we will take it, we will take every kobo that is for Niger state.

“We are not going to be marginalised again; our waters, our lands our borders are strengths for us and not weaknesses.

“We demand compensation for our people. Everything, every resource that comes from Niger State must be compensated. We will not tolerate this anymore.

Governor Bago therefore emphasised that Nigerlites who are being ravaged and displaced every year due to overflow of water,
must be compensated.

He said,”Our people have done enough for Nigeria.”