Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has renewed Niger State’s demand for a 13 percent derivation from the Federal Government, arguing that communities hosting major hydropower dams continue to bear enormous environmental, social and economic costs without receiving adequate compensation.
The governor made the appeal during a meeting with the leadership of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) at the Government House in Minna, where discussions also focused on insecurity, climate change, agriculture and regional development.
Niger Links Dam Operations to Economic and Environmental Losses
Bago said Niger State has endured years of recurring flooding triggered by the periodic release of water from four major hydropower facilities—Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro and Zungeru dams.
According to the governor, the annual flooding has repeatedly destroyed farmlands, displaced families and damaged communities across the state, placing a significant burden on local livelihoods and food production.
He argued that these long-standing environmental impacts justify granting Niger State a 13 percent derivation allocation from the Federal Government, similar to compensation mechanisms provided in other sectors where host communities shoulder substantial national responsibilities.
The governor maintained that while the dams contribute significantly to Nigeria’s electricity generation, the communities surrounding them continue to experience severe consequences from their operations.
Climate Change and Flooding Top Development Concerns
Beyond the derivation request, Bago urged the North Central Development Commission to give greater priority to climate resilience and disaster management across the region.
He noted that worsening climate conditions have increased the frequency and severity of flooding, making environmental protection and adaptation measures increasingly urgent.
According to him, protecting agricultural land and vulnerable communities should become a major component of the commission’s intervention strategy, particularly in states repeatedly affected by natural disasters.
Governor Calls for Coordinated Regional Security Strategy
The Niger State governor also pressed the commission to play a more active role in addressing persistent insecurity and communal conflicts affecting North Central Nigeria.
He specifically highlighted recurring farmer-herder clashes and broader security challenges that continue to disrupt farming activities, displace residents and slow economic development across the region.
To strengthen collaboration, Bago proposed a meeting involving governors from all North Central states and the commission’s leadership.
He said such a forum would help identify shared priorities, improve coordination and ensure that development projects address the region’s most pressing security and socio-economic challenges.
Agriculture and Education Identified as Long-Term Priorities
Bago further encouraged the commission to channel substantial investments into agriculture and education, describing both sectors as essential for sustainable economic growth and long-term stability.
He reaffirmed the Niger State Government’s commitment to supporting the commission’s operations by providing a liaison office and necessary logistical assistance to facilitate its activities within the state.
NCDC Outlines Development Agenda
Speaking during the visit, the Managing Director of the North Central Development Commission, Cyril Tsenyil, said the commission intends to work closely with member states to achieve its development mandate.
He listed the commission’s major intervention areas to include:
- Transportation
- Road infrastructure
- Healthcare
- Education
- Agriculture
- Industrialisation
- Water supply
- Electricity
- Telecommunications
Tsenyil also assured the Niger State Government that the commission would collaborate with stakeholders in addressing insecurity and accelerating development initiatives across the North Central region.
Leadership Tour Targets Stronger State Partnerships
Chairman of the NCDC Governing Board, Barrister Cosmas Akighir, explained that the visit to Niger State formed part of the commission’s ongoing tour of member states aimed at introducing its leadership and identifying areas for partnership.
Akighir praised Governor Bago’s administration for its investments in agriculture, infrastructure development and governance reforms, describing the initiatives as important contributions to the state’s growth.
Why This Matters
Niger State occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s electricity sector, hosting multiple hydropower facilities that supply power to the national grid. However, the state has consistently argued that the environmental costs associated with these dams—including flooding, displacement and destruction of farmland—have not been matched by adequate federal compensation.
The renewed call for a 13 percent derivation could reignite discussions over how Nigeria compensates states that host critical national infrastructure while simultaneously facing significant environmental and developmental challenges.
The meeting also signals an effort by the newly established North Central Development Commission to coordinate development projects, improve regional security and strengthen partnerships with state governments.
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