Niger Community Demands FG’s Payment of N1.1 Trillion Judgment Debt

A Niger community has called upon the federal government to pay the N1.1 trillion judgment debt awarded to the Samboro community for the destruction of their livelihoods and forceful eviction.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), a civil society group, has invoked its power of advocacy under its democracy and governance mandate to draw local and international attention to the plight of the inhabitants of Samboro, who were allegedly displaced following the construction of the Zungeru Hydro-electric Power Dam.

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.

The Samboro community has been facing severe hardship since the Zungeru Hydro-electric Power Dam overflowed and released a massive volume of water into the community, washing away their homes and livelihoods within hours and days.

Despite the devastating effects of the Dam, the federal government has failed to provide aid to its people, leaving them to fend for themselves.

During a press conference held in Abuja, the executive director of the CLO, Ibuchukwu Ezike, stated that the organization has put in place a series of activities to ensure that the federal government obeys the court order, which granted succour to the inhabitants of Samboro by awarding them the N1.1 trillion for the destruction of their entire livelihoods and forceful eviction.

The CLO emphasized the importance of holding the government accountable for addressing the suffering endured by the Samboro community and urged the federal government to obey the court’s judgment and provide the necessary compensation to the affected community.