N’East stakeholders hail Tinubu over N80bn flood intervention fund

N’East stakeholders hail Tinubu over N80bn flood intervention fund

The North East Stakeholders Forum for Sustainable Development has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the release of N80 billion to relevant government agencies and institutions for flood control interventions across the country.

The forum described the intervention as timely, saying it would help mitigate the impact of flooding in vulnerable communities, particularly as authorities continue to warn of increased flood risks due to persistent rainfall.

The group also praised the Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, Abubakar Yelwa, for what it described as proactive measures aimed at reducing the impact of flooding across HYPPADEC member states.

In a statement jointly signed by the National Chairman of the forum, Murtala Jalingo, and its Secretary-General, Danladi Bawa, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Bauchi, the group noted that the federal government’s intervention came at a critical period.

The statement read further in part: “The intervention came at the right time for the right purpose and will undoubtedly serve as a proactive step towards mitigating the devastating impact of flooding in vulnerable communities across the country. We call for more funds to effectively control and address the looming challenge.”

The forum expressed confidence that the intervention fund would be properly utilised.

“We believe the money will be judiciously utilised to reduce the impact of the torrential rains that threaten widespread flash floods across HYPPADEC member states and other parts of Nigeria,” the statement added.

While commending Yelwa’s leadership, the group observed that the HYPPADEC boss had consistently demonstrated commitment to effective service delivery.

“The Managing Director has continued to pursue the commission’s projects with vigour through regular reviews of ongoing projects, assessment of programme implementation and the development of strategies aimed at improving service delivery across member states,” the statement pointed out.

The forum insisted that Yelwa’s leadership style has strengthened project implementation by ensuring continuous evaluation of departments and field operations.

“His approach to quality service delivery provides a genuine opportunity to evaluate the performance of departments and divisions, identify operational challenges and receive feedback from field offices to strengthen project implementation,” it stated.

The group further applauded HYPPADEC for sustaining its annual flood preparedness campaign through early sensitisation programmes in flood-prone communities before the commencement of the rainy season.

It noted that the commission had also implemented several intervention projects in Gombe and Taraba states aimed at improving the welfare of residents and reducing ecological challenges associated with hydroelectric power operations.

The statement read further, “In Gombe State, HYPPADEC supplied 1,100 life jackets, provided an operational flying boat to Kupto Community, installed solar streetlights, constructed solar-powered boreholes, desilted drainages, built classrooms and supported indigent students through the payment of NECO examination fees.”

The forum maintained that the commission had remained focused on improving the lives of residents rather than concentrating solely on institutional development.

“We are happy that the commission under Yelwa is living up to the objectives of its establishment. Unlike many organisations that focus largely on internal development, HYPPADEC has prioritised interventions that directly impact the daily lives of the people,” the statement remarked.

Highlighting the interventions in Taraba State, the group stated, “Taraba State benefited from the delivery of a 33-seater boat and other safety facilities, distribution of 32 power tiller machines to farming cooperatives, provision of two flying boats along the Lau–Karim Lamido and Ibi–Wukari axes to enhance emergency response and mobility, desilting of blocked drainages and culverts covering about 40,000 linear metres across several local government areas, installation of transformers in parts of Jalingo, payment of NECO external examination fees for students from power-producing communities and the deployment of two water buses to improve transportation for residents of riverine communities.”

The commendation comes as Nigerian authorities warn that millions of residents living in low-lying and flood-prone communities could face severe flooding if the current heavy rainfall continues.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu