The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) says it will provide security personnel within the riverine areas to ensure the safety of people in the areas.
Member of HYPPADEC Governing Council, Representing Kogi, Isa Ozi-Salami announced this on Sunday during the inauguration of free medical outreach organised by the commission in conjunction with OXEE Healthcare Ltd. at General Hospital, Koton-Karfe local government area of Kogi.
“The lives of the rural masses within the riverine areas are at risks with the unfortunate cases of banditry, kidnapping and insurgency in the country and the commission has risen to the occasion to arrest the situation in the bud.
“We have purchased motorcycles for distribution to the security agencies operating within the riverine areas to help fight banditry, kidnapping and insurgency,” he state.
Ozi-Salami also said that plans were on the way for the commission to go into higher institutions to pick indigent students for financial assistance to enable them to complete their studies.
“What we want to do is to ensure that there is equity for a balance and contented society,” he said.
He said the desire of the HYPPADEC was to ensure that whatever little resources available would be put into use for the good of humanity.
The member explained that the commission would create more offices in local governments for effectiveness and efficiency of its primary assignments.
He said thst the ongoing four day medical outreaches being conducted around the 10 states were part of efforts to touch the lives of the rural poor.
He called on the public within the flood affected area to come out enmasse and take advantage of the free medical outreach to check their health and be treated.
Ozi-Salami commended President Muhammadu Buhari for injecting life into HYPPADEC 10 years after its establishment and for the wonderful impact it had on the citizens across the country.
Also speaking, a traditional ruler, the Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe, Abdulrazak Isah-Koto, commended HYPPADEC for organising the medical outreach.
“As the leader of the Koton-Karfe traditional council, I will instruct my chiefs to carry out more public enlightenment for our people to come out enmasse to benefit from the exercise,” he pledged.
He commended the commission for the enormous impact it had created in the lives of Nigerians in just one year of its operation.
Dr Rose-Mary Oguora, Chief Medical Director, Koton-Karfe General Hospital, said that more than 260 patients had so for been treated for different ailments.
She advocated more facilities to be provided to the hospital, calling for more public enlightenment for people to always check their Blood pressure.
“This is because we discovered that most of the people treated so far had BP problem and that is dangerous if not controlled or checked,” she warned.
