HYPPADEC: Kogi Governor Lauds President Buhari Over Welfare of Flood Victims »

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has commended president Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring the actual take-off of the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), which he said has shown to be proactive and committed to the plight of communities that suffer perennial floods as a result of activities of hydro-electric dams in the country.

Governor Bello gave this commendation today in Lokoja at the one day stakeholders meeting on the dissemination of report on the outcome of needs assessment exercise conducted by the commission and her development/technical partner (The New Approach) in Kogi State.

The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja said, listening to stakeholders speak on the subject matter has shown the effort of government in managing the situation and has further equipped the state government to do what is needful that would complement the effort of HYPPADEC and her funding partner.

He noted that Kogi state government in the last three years has embarked on aggressive health infrastructure development with recruitment of health care officers, assuring that Governor Yahaya Bello is poised to do more especially as it concerns primary health centers and the provision of portable water to rural dwellers as well as providing adequate security.

He lauded HYPPADEC and her partner for securing funds and committing it to the six states under HYPPADEC, assuring them of the state government’s support in achieving all that is planned for the state.

Earlier in his opening address, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa said the purpose of conducting needs assessment in communities was to get first hand information on the problems of the communities and together with the affected, discus the solutions.

He said the commission is committed to addressing challenges faced by HYPPADEC states, especially security challenges, environmental degradation, loss of farmland, lack of quality education, and waterborne diseases caused by inadequate water supply.

Consequently, Yelwa said the commission and her funding partners The New Approach, after a rigorous assessment has mapped out several interventions which he said requires the collaboration of all stakeholders to implement.

He said that they have concluded plans to relocate the people of Edaha community which is located almost under the Murtala Muhammed bridge in Kogi/Koton-Karfe local government area, to a 180 units of two bedroom apartments to be constructed by HYPPADEC.

He said to tackle waterborne diseases, HYPPADEC and her funding partner will provide eighty motorized solar powered boreholes to the identified communities

He also stated that 1,260 motorcycles will be provided for vigilantes in all the HYPPADEC benefiting states to help check the problems of insecurity in the states, while 490 Kogi youths, with special attention on women and people living with disabilities will be trained in different skills and trade as part of the commission’s youth transformation programme powered by giving stipends and starter parks as well as grants for them to be self-reliant.