HYPPADEC Trains 5,000 Youths To Curb Restiveness

Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has trained 5,000 youths through the commission’s Youth Transformation Programme (YTP) to curb criminality and other social vices among young persons.

The chairman HYPPADEC, Barr. Joseph Terfa Ityav, who disclosed this during the10th meeting of the Governing Council of the Commission in Makurdi the Benue State capital informed that the trained youths have already graduated and arrangements are being concluded to empower them with starter packs.

According to him, “the commission was signed into law in 2010 with four states of Kebbi, Kwara, Niger and Kogi and was amended in 2013 to include two additional states of Benue and Plateau.”

He said, “HYPPADEC immediately commenced an enumeration exercise to get an assessment of issues affecting communities around its member states. The Governing Council also nominated members of the policy draft committee to develop a working document for the Commission to enable it to develop a strategic policy plan with inputs from the enumeration exercise, state governments and non- governmental organisations.”

Ityav maintained that, in their bid to address the challenges of potable water faced by communities in member states “we have provided 296 solar powered boreholes and 500 hand-pump boreholes to reduce water hardship with the rehabilitation of 350 hand pumps bore-hole in HYPPADEC communities and worthy to note is our partnership with Kebbi and Niger states to revive the abandoned Yauri and New Bussa water works.”

“In the health sector, we launched a medical outreach in all our communities to reduce hardships faced by the people in accessing basic and affordable healthcare services and plans are also underway to renovate primary health centres and build where none exist. In agriculture, we provided fertiliser at subsidised rates to help farmers improve on their yields,” he added.

He said, “Due to request from traditional leaders we provided over 2,000 motorcycles to vigilante groups to aid their work in curbing security challenges in our communities.”

While Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity given to them to serve in HYPPADEC Governing Council and his foresight to ensure the safety of communities in member states Ityav said their inauguration has brought succour to communities within their area of jurisdiction.