N-HYPPADEC promises more projects for communities
By Mohammed Baba Busu
The reappointed Managing Director of National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, has assured communities within its mandates of new intervention initiatives.
Sadiq-Yelwa said this on Wednesday shortly after assuming office for his second term with an inspection visit to the Mana Water Works in Bida, Niger.
He promised to end the 15 years of lingering water challenges in Bida town and its environs.
Sadiq-Yelwa said concerted effort would be made to revive and complete the Bida water scheme.
According to him, the inspection is to assess the level of work at the site, which he confirmed had reached 70 per cent completion.
Sadiq-Yelwa emphasised that his second term would witness `thinking out the box’ towards mobilising resources to finance some of the interventions that would impact positively on the commission’s communities.
He said the commission would do that through partnership with state governments, the National Assembly, traditional leaders, among others, rather than relying solely on the Federal Government funding.
He said the commission had installed 5MB transformer and connected it to 33KVA from abandoned two smaller transformers from an 11KVA power line to improve power supply to the project.
Sadiq-Yelwa assured that N-HYPPADEC would partner with relevant agencies to revive the water works.
According to him, access to clean and safe potable water remains a priority for the commission in its commitment to improving the lives of people in host communities.
He said the Muregi and Ketso resettlement centres had been completed and awaiting allocation to potential beneficiaries.
The Director-General, Niger State Sewage and Water Corporation, Mr Gimba Isa, applauded the intervention of N-HYPPADEC in ensuring the revival of the water works for the benefit of no fewer than 600,000 people.
He pledged to inform the state government about other challenges facing the people of the area such as water treatment plant and reticulation as well as pumping machines.
Similarly, the Head, Electrical Division of the commission, Mr Ibrahim Adamu-Haruna, said the commission expended ₦308 million on the project, adding that the 29 items listed for supply and installation have been completed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that N-HYPPADEC MD had earlier visited the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of Niger state Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
He used the occasion to brief him on the challenges impeding the completion of the project.
Sadiq-Yelwa also urged the first class traditional ruler to pray for the success of the task o his administration and commended him for all the support to the commission.
Responding, the Etsu Nupe decried years of lack of portable pipe borne water in Bida town and environs. (NAN)
