Start sensitizing flood-prone communities – HYPPADEC to traditional rulers, LGs chairman
The Hydro Power Producing Area Development Commission, HYPPADEC, has appealed to traditional rulers and local government authorities to commence sensitization of people living in riverine areas ahead of the 2023 rains to forestall the devastating effect of floods across the country. States mostly affected by the devastation caused by the flood during the rainy seasons include Benue, Niger, Kogi, Kebbi, Kwara and Taraba. The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa made the call at the 2023 stakeholders meeting on flood mitigation and other related issues in Niger State. He explained that sensitising the people on environmental issues was important in mitigating the impact of flooding, adding that the commission's efforts in 2022, greatly reduced the number of flood casualties compared to previous years. Yelwa also noted the need for an attitudinal change in the people living around flood plains, arguing that " despite efforts for them to move from their ancestral homes due to the flooding, they have remained, taking advantage of the rivers to boost their socio-economic activities". Earlier, the Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, observed that flood has caused a lot of havoc on communities in Niger State, noting the need for partnerships to reduce its impacts on the state. The State ALGON Chairman, Suleiman Yerima who is also the chairman of Borgu local government commended the efforts of the commission in ameliorating the suffering of communities in the state while calling for more interventions in areas such as health, education, security and agriculture. Also, the chairman of Mokwa local government, Abdullahi Jibrin Muregi in his remarks decried years of monumental destruction of lives and properties by floods, especially, in 2012 and 2022 when about 17 LGs were affected in the state. He called for genuine collaboration with all the critical stakeholders in the sector to reduce the impacts of floods on the people, " we, however, commended the federal government for setting up the HYPPADEC.