Kogi Flood: N-HYPPADEC Begins Needs Assessment In 513 Kogi Communities For Intervention

… Shares Pains of People Affected, assures of support

By Abubakar Suleman

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has assured the people of Kogi State affected by recent flood, that it is with them, now and at all times, particularly in this trying moments.

N-HYPPADEC’s Director, Finance and Administration and Kogi State Team Lead and Team Lead for the ongoing Needs Assessment ongoing in the State for Flood Communities, Mr. Jimoh Haruna Gabi, gave the assurances while fielding questions from Newsmen in Lokoja.

The Commission, Mr. Gabi explained has currently deployed men across the affected nine Local Government Areas affected by the flood in the State to carry out a Needs Assessment for Flood affected communities

Mr. Gabi pointed out that the Commission will after it needs assessment relate with the citizens directly, assured that the Commission feels the pain of people affected by the 2024 flood in Kogi State.

He disclosed that the needs assessment by the Commission is with the view to making intervention as desired by the people, said the commission feels their pulse and the pains of the people affected.

In his words of encouragement, Mr. Gabi assured the people affected by the flooding in the nine out of the 21 local government areas that constitute Kogi State, that the Commission is with them, however advised them to endeavor to move to higher grounds, pointing out that their safety is more paramount to the Commission.

He disclosed that N-HYPPADEC will be more articulate in defining and making pronouncements of what is the required needs of the people, pointing out that the intervention would be geared towards improving their living standards, pointing out that the Commission remains a partner in progress to the State.

Mr. Gabi said the Commission has earlier embarked on a wide sensitization advising people living in flood prone areas to move upland, disclosed that the Needs Assessment exercise is currently ongoing in 513 communities for the deployment of intervention.

” The aim of the exercise is to look at infrastructure that is lacking. Those that are decayed. Others that require renovation or not there at all for the Commission to provide. We will only give what the Communities require”.

The Commission expressed appreciation that unlike in the past when flood usually will cut off vehicular movements along KotonKarfe, said the intervention of the Akpankiti Community through an erosion control it embarked upon has yielded result as the road was not flooded.

” The KotonKarfe project is one of our star project. In 2022 the road was cut off. We went to the drawing board and discovered that it was caused by the drainage. We surveyed from the source and with enrich engineering design, built a drainage system that can properly address the flood in Kogi LGA that usually leads to the road being cut off. Today we are happy that the road is motorable and the people are sleeping with their eyes closed as a result of the intervention”.

Mr. Gabi disclosed that it has since the commencement of it operation in the State been able to intervene in the areas of education, security, economic activities, agriculture, said it has also given facelift to victims of flood.

” In education. In all the ten N-HYPPADEC LGAs, we deployed the construction of two primary schools of three rooms and six toilet facilities. We also deployed table and chairs. Pupils study materials like exercise books, laptops and provided mini solar lighting to improve the lighting of the surroundings as well as introduced power banks to schools. The Commission also intervene in the areas of payment of school fees in tertiary institutions to the tune of N25m for indigent Students in FUL, PAAU and other tertiary institutions in the state”.

Mr. Gabi added that the Commission handed over hand pump boreholes in villages to address the water needs of the people where the people are having water challenges.

Through the Youth Transformation program, the Commission, Mr. Gabi explained had trained over 5000 youths in different locations and in the process stipends ranging from N15,000 to N10000 to get training. In the couple of weeks we will give out starter packs. We also facilitated the registration of Businesses with the CAC where the cost of registration was reduced.

In the area of security, Mr. Gabi said the Commission introduced motorcycles to security agencies and Vigilantee to help curb insecurity. We also tried to secure operators on the water bodies with life jackets to help protect safety of lives and properties in the water transportation.

“The Commission took a step further to introduce boats to some operators, having noticed that some of the boats are obsolete and unrepaired. We launched new flying boats with Kogi State benefitting four numbers”.

” The Commission also rendered medical outreaches to Riverine Communities and indigenes of the N-HYPPADEC communities”.

The Commission Mr. Gabi said has illuminated communities with Solar street lights, build Houses to serve as resettlements in some flood LGAs and communities, disclosed that the Housing project is already ongoing in Bassa LGA.

N-HYPPADEC Mr. Gabi disclosed took Commissioner’s of Agriculture from the concerned states to Thailand to understudy what the advanced country is doing in utilizing Agriculture, particularly in the production of Rice using the flood plains. This he explained is geared towards food security. Similarly the Commission intends to equip farmers with light machines to improve on their out put as well as enrich the soil with the of support of fertilizers.
Our massive investment in Agriculture is one that is visible.

Towards assisting flood affected persons, the Commission Mr. Gabi said the Commission has greatly supported with relief materials to flood affected communities, assured that the Commission is working to meet with the yearning and aspirations of the people of the State.