Host communities will continue to enjoy our support- power coy
By Rita Iliya
The North-South Power Company Limited (NSPCL) Niger says it has spent more than N1 billion on the execution of various community projects in the zone.
Dr Samson Esumeh, NSPCL Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen at the Company/Dam Host Community Stakeholders’ Committee Engagement Meeting on Tuesday in Minna.
He said the company had carried out various initiatives, including medical outreach programme, construction of boreholes, and provision of toilet facilities.
“We have constructed 47 boreholes, providing clean water access to 40 communities of over 15,000 households,” he said.
Esumeh explained that the Company’s Community Social Responsibility initiatives had positively impacted over one million people.
“We engaged in promoting health, education, sustainable agriculture, economic empowerment, and infrastructural development.
“ We have provided free deworming of 10,000 school children, 600 minor surgeries and 240 major surgeries and provision of free antenatal services to 55,560 women.
“Others were construction of 11 sanitation facilities and an ultra-modern Public Health Center, rehabilitation and furnishing of two community schools as well as donating educational materials to 30 primary schools,” he said.
He added that the organisation had provided scholarships to 14 deserving students, agricultural inputs to 40 communities that benefited over 100,000 households and trained 70 farmers on sustainable agricultural practices.
The spokesman also said the company had rehabilitated 30 kilometres of roads, installed solar-powered street lamps, renovated a community centre and constructed a 50-unit cluster houses.
“The company through its Zumba Child Advancement Programme (Z-CHAP) facilitated the enrollment of 100 out-of-school children back into formal education system,’’ he said.
According to him, the organisation’s investment in host community projects is a testimony of its dedication and commitment to foster sustainable peaceful coexistence among the host communities.
Esumeh described the meeting as a significant milestone of the company’s journey of 10 years of unwavering power generation and outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) achievements.
The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Danladi Kakimi, appreciated NSPCL for its intervention, especially in agriculture, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He urged the company to involve communities in planning and needs assessments before executing projects.
Also speaking, the chairman of Shiroro Local Government, Akilu Ishaku, lauded NSPCL’s efforts and called for more impactful interventions with more value-added projects.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abdul Hassan/Joe Idika