The north-west Kebbi State governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, has called for the dredging of River Niger and de-silting of water bodies, to solve the perennial problem of flooding in the hydroelectric power producing areas.
Bagudu made the suggestion at a one-day stakeholder meeting on the dissemination of a report on the outcome of a needs assessment exercise in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
The meeting was organised by the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), in collaboration with its Technical Partner, the New Approach.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Babale Umar-Yauri, the governor assured the HYPPADEC of his administration’s commitment to cooperate and support, in order to mitigate the sufferings of communities affected by floods in the state.
The HYPPADEC’s establishment Act, (No. 87 of 2010) states that the commission shall, among other things, formulate policies and guidelines for the development of hydroelectric power producing areas.
Others are to carry out a survey of hydroelectric power producing areas, to ascertain measures necessary to promote its physical development and prepare schemes designed to promote the physical developments of the areas.
It is also to implement all measures approved for the development of hydroelectric power producing areas by the Federal Government, in addition to tackling ecological problems that arise from overloading of dams in the hydroelectric power producing areas.
The commission is expected to advise the federal and state governments appropriately on the prevention and control of floods and environmental hazards.
