Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Mohammed Nasir Idris says the efforts of the National Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has led to the development of Kebbi State, adding that the State deeper collaboration with N-HYPPADEC toward the greater realization of set goals.
The governor, who spoke when the Management of N-HYPPADEC paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, on Tuesday, said “the people and government of Kebbi State are not unaware of the role that HYPPADEC is playing,” stating that some people who live in the riverine areas of Kebbi State have immensely benefitted from the Commission.
“I am happy that HYPPADEC is able to do for other states what it has done for us in Kebbi,” assuring that he is willing to be a bridge-builder should the need arise.
“In Kebbi State, HYPPADEC has started the training of our teeming youth as part of efforts to reduce unemployment, and we are very happy about this,” the governor said, adding that the challenge of unemployment is all over the country.
“The government of Kebbi State is delighted about the training. The collaboration between the Kebbi State Government and HYPPADEC is one of the channels that enable us to fulfill the campaign promises we made during the electioneering campaign, especially our pledge to address unemployment.”
Governor Idris seized the opportunity to announce an ongoing project of the State, saying: “In line with this, the Kebbi State government is building skills acquisition centers across the four emirates in Kebbi State,” adding that when completed, the structures will be equipped to provide the needed training that will lead to economic self-reliance of the people of the state.
“We will support the trained the youth to become economically independent so that they can cater for themselves and their families,” he stated.
The governor commended the Managing Director of HYPPADEC for the exemplary leadership at the commission, saying that he has lived up to expectation.
“The Managing Director is my good friend of over 30 years, and I can tell you that I know what he can do. I must thank you because you have not disappointed us.”
He described the Management Team of HYPPADEC as one which consists of highly educated experts with well known track records, adding that the resourcefulness of HYPPADEC Management must be brought to fore in the light of the huge successes of the commission.
Earlier, the Managing Director, National Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa discussed the mandate of N-HYPPADEC and its contributions to addressing ecological and socio-economic challenges of Kebbi State.
The Managing Director explained that the overall objective of the visit is to present the activities of the Commission and further cement the existing cordial relationship between the Commission and the Kebbi State Government.
While saying that the Commission is fully operational with the firm mission of harnessing and utilizing resources “towards ameliorating the negative effects of hydroelectric dam operations in the power producing areas of Nigeria,” the Managing Director explained that the commission aims to bring equitable and sustainable development that will impact positively on its member states.
“When operations took-off in 2021, the Commission operated in 55 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across six member states: Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Plateau. However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Electricity Act 2023 in May last year, which admitted four more states of Kaduna, Gombe, Nasarawa and Taraba into the Commission.”
He said N-HYPPADEC operates in 14 LGAs in Kebbi State, namely Argungu, Augie, Bagudo, Birnin-Kebbi, Bunza, Dandi, Jega, Kalgo, Koko-Besse, Maiyama, Ngaski, Shanga, Suru and Yauri.
“At the time we took-off, we deemed it necessary to carry out an elaborate Needs Assessment Exercise within the six initial member states. The purpose was to acquire accurate data on the ecological disasters troubling member states and identify areas that needed urgent intervention of the Commission.”
“The exercise also prompted the commission to formulate data-driven policies and embark on developmental projects that fit into the socio-cultural and economic realities of the affected communities. Three years on, the Commission has recorded milestone achievements in designing and implementing meaningful life-changing programmes/projects cutting across different areas of concern such as water transportation, environmental conservation, tackling of insecurity, infrastructural development and needful interventions in the educational and health sectors.
“The major programmes/projects that the Commission carried out successfully in Kebbi State so far, are as follows: Distribution of over 3000 units of Life Jackets to reduce risks of water transportation in different riverine areas of the State; Clearing of Snags on River Niger, which cuts through Warra, Talke, Tungan Ruwa, Tungun Kade, Lokon Uba, Garafimin Kodo, Hikiya and Zamare communities of Kebbi State; School Intervention Programme in which laboratories and boreholes were renovated in Government Colleges in Yauri, Gwandu and Argungu Emirates; Procurement and Installation of 223 nos of Solar Streetlights across twenty-two (22) communities; Provision of additional Solar Streetlights in 2023 to help address insecurity issues across the affected 14 LGAs of the Commission in Kebbi State.
He said the Commission also constructed initial 13 units of Blocks of Three Classrooms with an Office and Toilet Complex at and the ongoing additional ones; Construction of 37 units of Solar Motorised Boreholes across different communities of the State, more are ongoing in the state including those in the State and Federal Institutions in the State; Construction of 110 Hand-Pump Boreholes in Bagudo, Suru, Dandi, Koko Besse, Birnin Kebbi, Maiyama, Bunza, Jega, Argungu, Augie, Kalgo, Yauri, Ngaski and Shanga LGAs; Conducted 3-days Medical Outreach in a number of communities of the state during which consultations, minor surgeries and drugs were offered to patients free of charge.
According to the Managing Director, the commission distributed over 2000 forms of NECO exams to indigents of Kebbi State across 21 LGAs of the State, with a view to promoting educational pursuits. He said there was also the provision of relief materials to inhabitants of N-HYPPADEC communities in the State; distribution of 1,000 of motorcycles to aid security operatives in 14 LGAs of the State; Distribution of 2 of Toyota Vehicles, 30 additional motorcycles and ammunitions for security operatives to fight insecurity in Yauri and Zuru Emirates.
He said hundreds of youths from different communities across the State were trained in various vocations and trades, adding that there was also the procurement and selling of subsidized bags of fertilizer to farmers across 14 Local Government Areas of the State in 2022 and 2023 farming seasons.
The Managing Director mentioned other efforts including construction of culverts and retaining walls in Yauri as part of the Commission’s flood control projects among other ongoing projects.
