The Federal Government of Nigeria has put machinery in motion to ensure swift take-off of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC).
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who said this, explained that the commission is intended to address the perennial challenge of flooding and other ecological issues in its areas of jurisdiction.
Malami’s spokesman, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said in a statement Saturday that the AGF spoke in Argungu while paying a sympathy visit to the people of Kebbi State, who were recently affected by flood.
Part of the statement reads: “According to the minister, in the recent past, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Plateau and similar 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 afflictions, including loss of lives, property, agricultural produce, land degradation, shelters, farms and environments.
“According to 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 who sympathised with the people, the emir and the emirates over the incident, prayed for Allah’s intervention against reoccurrence of such experience.
“The minister, in collaboration with his two non-governmental organisations – Kadi Malami Foundation and Khadimiyya for Justice and Development, handed over a cash donation of 1.5 million naira and 1 million naira to Argungu and Augie communities respectively.”
