Yahaya zakka Minna.
Niger State Governors Abubakar Sani Bello has disclosed that Federal Government of Nigeria is designing a robust security architecture around the Zungeru Hydro Power Dam to ensure its speedy completion within the next three months.
Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello made the disclosure when he received, on a courtesy visit on Tuesday, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Cui Jianchun in minna.
He said a multi-level security backup is been arranged to ensure the safety of the Chinese expatriates working on site, as well as protect the installation within the dam site.
He stated that despite the overwhelming security challenges in the state, the Federal Government is putting up heavy security machineries in place to ensure it completion.
He maitained that Federal Government in conjunction with the state government will not allow security challenges derailled the completion of the project after reaching 95% level of completion.
Governor Bello,appreciated the envoy’s visit, however, frowned at the activities of some illegal Chinese miners in the state, stressing that government is willing to partner with legally recognized mining companies in the state.
He stressed that goverment would soon clamp down on illegal Miner’s operating in the state.
He mentioned that the state government is willing to partner with recognized mining companies but will not tolerate acts of illegal mining activities in the state, especially in places of historical monuments and importance.
The Governor stated that the state Government is also seeking collaboration with the Chinese Government in the areas of agriculture, livestock, mining, infrastructure and capacity building.
Earlier in his speech the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria,Mr Jianchun said he was in the state to inspect the level of work at the Zungeru Hydro Power Dam project.
Mr Jianchun, expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of work at the hydro power dam, however, regretted that insecurity has setback its completion as scheduled.
He disclosed that the Chinese Government has lost a huge amount of money due to the delay in the completion of the project.
He assures that, with the expected support at the site, work shall be completed in the next three months time.
The Ambassador assured Niger state Government of strong bilateral ties between his country and Nigeria.