The Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, has officially resumed duties following his reappointment for another four-year term by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Yelwa chose to resume not at the Commission’s headquarters, but in the field, at the long-abandoned Mana Water Scheme in Bida, Niger State.
The Managing Director’s first official outing underscored N-HYPPADEC’s ongoing intervention to upgrade the power supply to the water facility from 11kVA to 33kVA, complete with the provision of a new transformer.
The project complements the Niger State Government’s rehabilitation of the scheme, which had been out of operation for over 14 years.
Speaking during the inspection, Yelwa reaffirmed N-HYPPADEC’s commitment to ensuring access to clean, reliable pipe-borne water for Bida residents and adjoining communities. He noted that the Commission’s support was aimed at fast-tracking the delivery of essential services to people whose lives have been disrupted by the effects of hydroelectric power projects.
“This project is a clear demonstration of our resolve to prioritize the welfare of communities in our mandate areas. By restoring water supply to Bida and surrounding towns, we are not just rehabilitating infrastructure, we are restoring dignity and hope to the people,” Yelwa said.
Accompanied by officials of the Niger State Water and Sewage Corporation, the N-HYPPADEC boss also paid a courtesy visit to Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar. The delegation briefed the monarch on the Commission’s interventions and sought his blessings for the success of ongoing and future projects.
The Etsu Nupe, while receiving the delegation, commended N-HYPPADEC for its people-centered initiatives and assured the Commission of the traditional institution’s continuous support.
With his field resumption, stakeholders say Yelwa has set the tone for a hands-on, community-driven leadership style in his new tenure at N-HYPPADEC.
