By Pascal Ibe

Barely, 48 hours after the deadly suicide bombing occurred in Borno State, TheNation newspaper on Monday reported that many injured, installations damaged after explosion hit Zungeru Hydro-Electric Dam in Niger State.

According to TheNation on Monday afternoon, an explosion at the Zungeru Hydro-Electric Power Dam caused injuries to a Chinese engineer, security personnel, and several workers, and destroyed some installations.

The report said the cause of the explosion, which occurred on the morning of Monday, July 1, is currently unknown as there have been no official reports about the incident.

“The Chinese engineer was conducting a routine check when the explosion happened, and those injured were taken to the Minna General Hospital.

TheNation stated that the engineer was first admitted to the emergency ward of the hospital for treatment for burns on the head and hand but due to the seriousness of the burns, he was referred to the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna for advanced medical attention.

“The number of the workers and security personnel injured are currently unknown.

How True Is This Report?

When Thefactwatch contacted a resident in Niger State simply known as Zakari, he quickly refuted the report.

Zakari said the news is false. He noted that a worker at Zungeru Hydro-Electric Dam confirmed to him that the news is not true.

“I spoke with a worker there moments ago, he told me that nothing like this happened, infact the worker is at the Hydro-Electric plant when we spoke on the telephone, “Zakari said.

A lecturer with the Zungeru Polytechnic who pleased anonymity confirmed nothing of such happened today.

Also, Niger State Police Command has denied reports of an explosion at the Zungeru Hydro Power Station in Wushishi Local Government Area on Monday, July 1, 2024.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, described the reports as “untrue” and stated that no such incident occurred at the power plant.

The police have clarified that no explosion occurred, and the reports are unfounded.

No explosion at Zungeru power plant, says management

Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, a parent company of Penstock Limited, which is in charge of the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant in Niger State, has refuted claims that there was an explosion at the plant.

Refuting the rumour in a statement titled: “Fake News of an Explosion at Zungeru Hydro Power Plant.” and posted on X.com on Monday, the management of MESL stated that the plant was intact as it condemned the “false and mischievous report.”

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The statement partly read, “The fake news concerning an explosion at the Zungeru Hydropower Plant with resulting casualties published in newspapers on July 1, 2024, and circulated on social media has been brought to our attention.

“We wish to express our strong objection to this false and mischievous report, categorically stating that no such incident occurred.

This report is not only false but also highly irresponsible and insensitive, given the pervasive nature of insecurity issues in Nigeria.”

In the statement, the board and management of the Zungeru Hydro Power Plant were also said to have reassured the public that “the Zungeru Hydropower Plant is intact and continues to power Nigerian homes and businesses after successfully concluding a 15-day test run that remarkably boosted power supply to the grid.”.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has similarly refuted reports that an explosion occurred at Zungeru Power Plant on Monday.

Eagle Online reports that a statement by Adelabu’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, quoted the Minister as saying that the report of the explosion is a figment of the imagination of the purveyors of such information.

Adelabu was quoted as saying, “I have spoken with the Managing Director of Mainstream Energy, and I can assure you that nothing of such took place in Zungeru. The plant is working, and it continues to supply the grid.

“We have video evidence from Zungeru that nothing like that occurred today, and whoever is interested should go there to find out.”