Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) has included Nasarawa State into its membership with a view to addressing ecological challenges confronting the state.
Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, Managing Director (MD) of the commission made the disclosure during a courtesy call to Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Wednesday in Lafia.
The MD of HYPADEC informed the governor that the state is now among states needing urgent intervention as a result of the overflow of dams related to hydroelectricity.
The MD announced that President Bola Tinubu approved the inclusion of Nasarawa State as a member of the HYPADEC, with the purpose of identifying those communities that suffer from flooding.
“We will identify and study these communities and see how it can ameliorate the challenges caused by flooding because the affected communities lose their households, farm lands, and schools.
“We will also study the economic situation in these communities to see what can be done to uplift the living standards of these communities,” he added.
The MD said Nasarawa State would begin to benefit from the various interventions from the commission just like the other states who are members of HYPADEC.
He used the opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of the commission to include distribution of relief materials and palliative to the victims of unprecedented flood disaster in 2022.
Others are construction of drainage systems for the control of flood and erosion in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, and Kebbi states, as well as development of 10-15 years master plan.
“We have provided affected communities from members state with portable drinking water, good schools, and working tools in those schools,” the MD added.
He further said that the commission had also provided solar streetlights and trained their unemployed youths in different skills.
“Now that Nasarawa State has become a member of the commission and now that we have 10 states that are members of the Hydroelectricity Producing Communities,” he added.
Responding, Gov. Sule lauded President Bola Tinubu and the commission for including the state amongst the states to benefit from their intervention.
Sule added that membership of HYPADEC’ would help facilitate the generation if 25 megawatts at Farin Ruwa Dam in Wamba Local Government Area of the state currently undergoing construction.
He explained that the state would greatly appreciate the interventions from the commission towards mitigating the impact of erosion and flooding.
The governor added that communities mostly in Awe, Loko and Toto LGA continue to witness unprecedented flood on a yearly basis because of rivers in the areas that feed the River Benue.
Gov. Sule therefore, promised to continue to partner the Federal Government and other organisations interested in the development of the state and the country. (NAN)