The Kwara State government has handed over a N613m National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) project to Patigi community in Patigi local government area of the state.
The commissioning of N-HYPPADEC’s Patigi Erosion Control project was graced by top government officials from Abuja and Kwara.
Handing over the project, the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq restated the commitment of his administration towards prioritizing the welfare of the people of the state.
“Our government’s priority is people’s welfare. Therefore, today is another landmark achievements in our collective efforts to address challenges posed by the extreme weather events and natural disasters, particularly in Kwara State,” the governor said.
“This is an initiative of the federal government, through the National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), to mitigate the effect of climate change that has been making many residents vulnerable,” he added.
Represented by the commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge, the governor said , “wth the inauguration of this critical infrastructure and the commitment of the Commission to replicate efforts like this in other parts of the state, we can look forward to a future where the spectre of devastating floods and erosion no longer loom over our communities.
“This project aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, and our modest commitment to a safer environment in Kwara State. It is one of the several markers signifying that we are moving into a new era of resilience and progress for our nation.”
AbdulRazaq said that the state government is similarly pursuing the dredging of River Niger to tackle the perennial flooding in some parts of the state.
He, therefore, appealed to residents to ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the infrastructure, for coming generations to benefit from it.
He charged the people to avoid activities that could compromise the integrity of the vital infrastructure, ” such as dumping of refuse in water ways, for us to be able to protect our community from the threat of future floods and preserve the legacy of progress that we have worked so hard to achieve.”
“I urge all community leaders and youth organisations to remain vigilant and proactive by ensuring that this project remains effective and operational,” the governor charged the people.
AbdulRazaq thanked N-HYPPADEC team for their exemplary leadership and commitment to the welfare of the people as well as the Etsu Patigi, Alh. Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, and his people, for the wonderful reception accorded the team, during the execution of the project.
The chairman, House Committee on N-HYPPADEC, Hon. Pascal Agbodike, urged Kwarans and Nigerians in general to continue to support President Tinubu in his efforts to improve the lots of the masses.
Agbodike, was represented by the minister of Youth Development, Dr Jemilat Bio- Ibrahim.
Earlier, the managing director of N- HYPPADEC, Abubakar Yelwa, had said that the project was driven by the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, with the aim of to attending to the urgent needs of the people.
Yelwa said , ” the project is a heavily cemented wide drainage which had been constructed to perfectly control the hitherto troubled water, while the erosion areas had been thickly sand filled, to make the affected areas even now motorable and also to improve lives, safeguard environment and harness natural gifts. ”
He acknowledged the support his team enjoyed from the community and urged them to take ownership of the project and safeguard it from being vandalised.
Yelwa added that the commission is implementing various life-changing projects across its catchment states.
In his remarks, the Etsu Patigi, Alh. Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, noted that the project will ameliorate the suffering of his people, lamenting how flood used to ravage school buildings, hospital facilities, farmlands, amongst others during the rainy season.
