By Abubakar Hassan
The Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has held a stakeholders forum on strategic medium term plan of the commission, covering five years period (2022-2027).
Addressing the participants, the Governor of Niger State, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello expressed happiness that the commission had continue to strategically pursue its mandate since its official take off by impacting positively on communities affected by the activities of the Hydro Electric Dams.
The governor indicated Niger State being the host had unrelentingly enjoyed harmonious relationship with the commission.
He observed that the stakeholders forum will help to link the policy of the commission with its planning and required budgets for ease of implementation.
Bello added that he was convinced that the medium term strategy will help set out specific inputs and activities to deliver specific outputs in the medium term.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Ketso at the occasion held at Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, called on the management of the commission to put the beneficiaries of their planned projects and programmes in focus, saying people of the HYPPADEC states need to be taken along in all the planning stages in order for the commission to have smooth implementation.
He further stated that it was heart-warming that the Federal government of Nigeria through HYPPADEC was supporting communities proned to perennial disaster on the corridors of the electricity generating dams.
The governor added that the commitment of the commission to expand its support to cover education, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, water resources, entrepreneur and environment was a welcome development which will support HYPPADEC state governments to effectively provide basic necessities of life for their people
He also stated that the event of the day was very significant to the critical stakeholders inthe sense that the commission is one of the newest in the country and was already making the desired impact in the HYPPADEC states.
He urged the participants to make useful contribution towards pursuing the core mandate of the commission and provide succour to the communities affected by the activities of the hydro electricity generating dams.
While commending the Federal government for demonstrating resilience in tackling the plight of the people living on the banks of River Niger, Kaduna and Benue, the Governor also congratulated HYPPADEC for what they have accomplished within a short period of its establishment.
He promised that Niger state government will continue to support all Federal government agencies and commissions in the state to achieve their mandate.
In his goodwill message at the event, member representing Chanchaga federal constituency at the national assembly and gubernatorial candidate of APC, Rt. Hon Umar Mohammed Bago observed that the commission was doing well stressing the need to appreciate the APC led government for making the commission a reality.
He said the state government will streamline some of its policies toward same direction with the HYPPADEC, adding that the state will collaborate with the commission to maximize its potentials, particularly in the area of agriculture.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alh. Sadiq Yelwa said the commission had achieved a lot in terms of providing support to the benefiting communities adding that it us committed to do more.
He disclosed that the commission will train 10 people from each local government in Health line and will also donate diagnostic centre and equipment to the HYPPADEC states.
He also disclosed that the commission had approved N200 million for the extension of drainages in Kontagora and its environs, adding that the governing council of the commission had also approved the management request to provide shelter for the people of Ketso community in Mokwa local government, ravaged by flooding.
Yelwa also expressed appreciation for the support the commission received from the host state, particularly the Governor and his Deputy, saying all that the commission had accomplished within the period of its existence would not have been possible without the support of the HYPPADEC state governments.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, HYPPADEC governing council, Hon. Barr. Joseph Terfa Ityav disclosed that the mandate of the commission was to formulate policies and programmes that will improve on the livelihood of the people in various HYPPADEC communities.
He disclosed that the occasion was to work on the medium term plan of the commission, saying they cannot produce a document and make it working document without the inputs of other critical stakeholders, hence the reason for the event of the day.
He added that they were enjoying their stay in Minna due to the warmth reception accorded them by Niger State government and appreciated the government for the gesture.