The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, and communities to strengthen resilience and avert urban crises across Nigeria.
Mr Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, the Managing Director of the Commission, made the call on Monday in Lafia at the 2025 World Habitat Day celebration, themed “Urban Crisis Response: Building Resilience to Avert Urban Crisis.”
Yelwa said that the event was an opportunity to reflect on the state of human settlements and promote actions to ensure safe, inclusive, and sustainable communities.
He commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for the support given to the Commission since the state was incorporated into N-HYPPADEC in 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, and appreciated the cooperation of the state government, traditional rulers, and development partners.
“Climate change and conflict are deeply interconnected in shaping the realities of our communities.
Armed banditry, floods, and forced migration have continued to strain our urban centres,” Yelwa said.
He explained that many cities were overstretched due to population pressure caused by insecurity and climate-induced displacement, adding that building urban resilience had become essential for national survival.
Highlighting some of the Commission’s interventions, Yelwa said N-HYPPADEC had distributed over 2,500 motorcycles to security agencies to enhance rapid response in rural areas.
He added that the Commission had embarked on flood control projects and the construction of over 150 housing units for displaced families in Niger State, with plans to replicate the project in other member states.
According to him, N-HYPPADEC has also empowered more than 5,000 youths and women through its Youth Transformation Programme, aimed at creating jobs and reducing insecurity.
“Our vision is to continue building resilience by addressing the root causes of vulnerability, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and strengthening the physical and social infrastructures of our communities,” he said.
Mr Adamu Gosho, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Works and Transport, who declared the event open, commended N-HYPPADEC for hosting the celebration in Lafia.
He urged relevant agencies to study and implement the recommendations from the keynote paper, noting that housing and security remained critical to sustainable urban development.
“Addressing the challenges of affordable housing and security requires coordinated action between government, development partners, and communities,” Gosho said.
Earlier, Sen. Arc. Salihu Hussain Egyegbola, the keynote speaker, defined urban resilience as the capacity of cities to anticipate, withstand, and recover from crises such as climate change, infrastructure failure, economic shocks, and pandemics.
He identified factors contributing to urban crises to include rapid urbanisation, economic inequality, insecurity, and poor governance, and called for implementation of urban and regional master plans, disaster preparedness systems, and sustainable infrastructure maintenance.
“Urban areas must be resilient to protect lives, property, and the ecosystem. Governments at all levels should prioritise climate adaptation, inclusive planning, and investment in social safety nets,” he said.
Also speaking, Engr. Dr Ipilakyaa Daniel, N-HYPPADEC Director of Engineering and Technical Services, said the commemoration marked the Commission’s maiden celebration of World Habitat Day.
He said that the event underscored the need for sustainable technical solutions, including disaster-resilient designs, affordable housing, renewable energy, and participatory urban planning.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted government officials, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, private sector representatives, and development partners. (NAN)