How Communities In Kebbi State Were Connected To Water

The establishment of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N- HYPPADEC) in Nigeria by the federal government, has assisted communities in Kebbi State connect to water.

The commission, since it inception, has been offering so many interventions in both rural and urban communities. These services include training of unemployed youths and women in different skills acquisition, offering relief assistance to those affected by disasters, namely boat mishap, as well as distribution of life jackets to drivers of boats. And above all, the commission has intervened in the construction and rehabilitation of boreholes and abandoned water schemes in Kebbi State.

Communities In Yelwa-Yauri town, specifically, have recently enjoyed such intervention by the N- HYPPADEC under its managing director, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa (Katikan Yauri) as their long abandoned water scheme, neglected for over 30 years was rehabilitated and put back into use.

I also gathered that N- HYPPADEC, did its investigations after viewing the damage and the total neglect of the water scheme in the town, and sent a committee of engineers from the Commission and Kebbi Water Board to assess the extent of the neglect and report back to the Commission to provide a way forward.

After the committee submitted its report and recommendation, the Commission through the federal government has awarded rehabilitation work of the water scheme in the area at the cost of 2 billion Naira, with the rehabilitation commencing in earnest.

Soon after, by October 24, 2024, N- HYPPADEC handed over the fully rehabilitated water scheme to the Kebbi State government.

During the handing over ceremony, Yelwa noted, “We are grateful for the support of the Emir of Yauri, Dr Zayyanu Abdullahi, whose blessings and moral support were instrumental to this success.”

The MD noted that this water scheme rehabilitation by the N- HYPPADEC is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ focusing on enhancing the quality of lives of citizens in the area and the country.

He called on the people in the area to keep vigil on the facility, in order to ensure its maintenance. Some people in Yelwa -Yauri who spoke with me commended the federal government and N- HYPPADEC for connecting them with constant water.