Indigenes of Muye/Egba Ward in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State have appealed to the Federal Government to release additional funds to the National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) to accelerate construction of an embankment aimed at controlling perennial flooding in the community and surrounding villages.
The Village Head of Muye and Amana Kakanda, Salihu Mohammed, made the appeal during an inspection of the ongoing project in Muye. He expressed concern over the devastating impact of flooding on the social and economic activities of residents.
The traditional ruler said the slow pace of work was a source of worry to the community, stressing that timely completion of the embankment would protect lives, property and farmlands from further destruction.
According to him, more than 30 farming communities continue to suffer huge losses as a result of recurrent flooding.
“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate the management of N-HYPPADEC for the intervention. I am urging the Federal Government to support the commission with more funds to enable it to deliver the project in good time,” he appealed.
Earlier, the Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Abubakar Yelwa, who led the management team on the inspection tour, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work executed so far.
Yelwa, represented by the Director of Finance and Administration, Haruna Gabi, said the purpose of the inspection was to assess the progress of work and ensure the project was being executed according to specifications.
He noted that the contractor had remained active on site, while the consultant was monitoring the project to ensure compliance with required standards and prevent any deviation from the approved design.
Yelwa recalled that members of the community had initially expressed fears about the project following two previous unsuccessful attempts to construct an embankment in the area.
He, however, assured the people that N-HYPPADEC had the experience and capacity to deliver the project successfully, noting that the commission had put the necessary measures in place to ensure its timely completion.
The N-HYPPADEC Managing Director said the project had been prioritised by the commission and that the contractor was expected to strictly adhere to the approved specifications.
He disclosed that the project had a total contract value of N700 million, adding that the contractor had been adequately mobilised to avoid unnecessary delays or requests for variations.
“The contractor is really doing a good job as scheduled. There is no need for any variation,” he said.
Also speaking, the member representing Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Abdullahi Mahmud, commended N-HYPPADEC for intervening in the flood-prone community.
Mahmud urged his constituents to remain patient and appreciate the efforts being made by the Federal Government and N-HYPPADEC to ensure completion of the project.
The lawmaker noted that similar demands for flood-control infrastructure were coming from several parts of the country.
