The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Commission (HYPPADEC) has expressed satisfaction with its projects targeted at tackling erosion menace and water challenges in Benue State.
The chairman of Council, HYPPADEC, Barr. Terfa Ityav, made this known yesterday during an inspection tour of HYPPADEC projects in Benue, one of the catchment areas of the commission, and the cutting the tape to inaugurate the commission’s office in the state.
The projects inspected by Ityav’s team included the 1.2Km Idye drainage/dyke site Makurdi, education projects, water and solar lights in five areas of Makurdi, Tarka, Buruku, Katsina-Ala and Kwande.
He said the projects, which fall within one and two years of HYPPADEC’s strategic plan, were arrived at after a needs assessment conducted in the benefitting communities.
The HYPPADEC chairman, who noted that communities that have taken good care of the projects situated within their domains can be sure of more, explained that the commission does not just engage in projects execution but is more interested in the sustainability of the projects.
“Last year, we set up an enumeration team that went to communities to identify critical needs of communities in our catchment areas. Projects were awarded. We are monitoring to verify and ascertain that the projects are executed and according to standard.
“We started last year. We went to Kebbi. We were in Kogi last week. Yesterday, we started in Benue State – we went to Agatu and Ogbadibo to look at blocks of classrooms that were built and solar boreholes that were constructed as a result of the yearnings of the people.
“Today, we started with the 1.2Km ecological control project we started in Nyiman to reduce the sufferings of the people as a result of flooding,” he said.
Responding, the community leaders in Makurdi, Tarka, Buruku, Katsina-Ala and Kwande LGAs, appreciated HYPPADEC for the gesture and assured that they will protect the projects.
The District Head of Kyo/Yia, Tyoor Gwa Joshua Anaibo, Thomas Gberityo (Buruku) and Atim Fanen, who received the team in their respective domains said the commission’s interventions have impacted their communities positively.
Meanwhile, the chairman of HYPPADEC Project Monitoring Committee, Prof Saleh Mohammed Kanam, said HYPPADEC was out to tackle the consequences of erosion as a result of dams and tributary rivers in the areas under the jurisdiction of the commission as well as providing other services that are beneficial to its catchment areas.
