FG: HYPPADEC Commission ll Take off Soon.

By John Nwokocha

Abuja

Indications emerged weekend that the Federal government has set all machineries in motion towards a swift take-off of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC). The HYPPADEC, when fully executed, is expected to address the perennial challenge of flooding as well as manage related ecological problems ravaging communities in the Hydroelectric power producing areas of the country.

Speaking in Argungu in Kebbi state, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, disclosed that the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (Establishment, Etc,) Act, 2010 (No. 87 of 2010), the Commission shall, among other things: formulate policies and guidelines for the development of hydroelectric power producing areas, carry out a survey of hydroelectric power producing areas in order to ascertain measures which arc necessary to promote its physical development,  prepare schemes designed to promote the physical developments of the hydroelectric power producing areas, implement all measures approved for development of hydroelectric power producing areas by the Federal Government, and tackle ecological problems that arise from overloading of dams in the hydroelectric power producing areas and advise federal and state governments on the prevention and control of floods and environmental hazards.

Malami made this known when he paid a sympathy visit to the people of Kebbi State that were recently affected by floods.

The Minister noted that in the recent past Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger and Plateau states of the federation have been experiencing annual flooding of the River Niger and its tributaries of the three hydro-electricity dams in Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro resulting to unquantifiable problems including loss of  lives, property, agricultural produce, land degradation,  shelters, farms and environments.

According to a statement issued by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister, in collaboration with his two non-governmental organizations, handed over a cash denotation of  worth 1.5 million naira and 1 million naira to Argungu and Augie communities respectively and promised that his two Non-Governmental Organizations of Kadi Malami Foundation and Khadimiyya for Justice and Development will directly reach out to the affected communities and offer them humanitarian support and assistance.

Malami also sympathized with the people, the emir and the emirates over the incident and prayed for God’s intervention against reoccurrence of the problem.