North East Group Lauds Tinubu, HYPPADEC Over N80bn Flood Mitigation Fund

The North-East Stakeholders Forum for Sustainable Development (NESFSD) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the managing director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, for approving the release of N80 billion to mitigate the devastating impact of flooding in vulnerable communities.

According to a statement jointly signed by the national chairman of the forum, Alhaji Murtala Sule Jalingo, and the secretary-general, Comrade Danladi Bawa Gombe, the intervention was timely and demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to protecting life and property from the increasing threat of flooding.

The forum described the funding as a proactive measure that would strengthen flood prevention efforts, while urging the federal government to provide additional resources to ensure effective flood control and long-term environmental protection.

It expressed confidence that the fund would be utilised judiciously to address the effects of torrential rainfall, which continues to threaten communities in HYPPADEC states and other flood-prone areas of the country.

The stakeholders also praised the leadership of Yelwa, describing him as a committed administrator who has consistently ensured the timely execution of projects through regular reviews of ongoing programmes, monitoring of implementation, and the adoption of strategies to improve service delivery across the Commission’s member states.

They said Yelwa’s hands-on leadership style had enhanced project implementation by identifying operational challenges, evaluating departmental performance, and strengthening collaboration with field offices.

The statement further noted that under Yelwa’s leadership, HYPPADEC has sustained its annual flood preparedness campaigns by embarking on early sensitisation programmes in flood-prone communities well before the onset of the rainy season.

It added that the commission has implemented several impactful interventions in Gombe and Taraba states, tailored to the specific needs of host communities, thereby improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable development.