Kogi : HYPPADEC raises concern over rising water level ,asks residents to relocate

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission(HYPPADEC) has warned communities living in the water plain of rivers under its coverage to relocate to the safer areas to avoid hardships occasioned by this year water flooding. The managing director of the HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa disclosed this in Idah at the weekend while inspecting the […]

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission(HYPPADEC) has warned communities living in the water plain of rivers under its coverage to relocate to the safer areas to avoid hardships occasioned by this year water flooding.

The managing director of the HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa disclosed this in Idah at the weekend while inspecting the collapsed Idah water works with his managerial team .

He said with the water level rising continuously, coupled with the release of water from Ladgo dam in Cameron Republic , communities under their coverage living at the bank of Rivers should heed to their warning and relocate to avoid being victims of water flood disaster in this year wet season .

“Flooding is a natural phenomenon ; nobody can stop it ; you can only manage the situation to minimise its impact on the communities living at the banks of Rivers.

“We have been in the fore fronts in curtailing the impact of water flooding in the communities under our coverage, as spelt out by our mandates. We have been given out warning to such flood prone communities to relocate to a safer place since the signs of water flood became more visible .

“We have called on the federal government to declare state of emergency because of alarm from various communities, based on their previous experience and signs and warning from Nigeria Meteriological technology(Nimet) of an impending flood water”, he said .

While the HYPPADEC Boss said the situation is alarming and said the agency has been at alert , he added that his team had visited the Ata Igala , HRM, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa Ogwuche Akpa11 and Eje of Ibaji, HRH Egwemi ,the chairman of Ibaji local government traditional council of chiefs to sample their opinion for the agency to include their views in their action plan .

Meanwhile, the agency’s managing director has said the commission, in collaboration with Kogi state government has taken stock to rehabilitate the abandoned Idah community water works,including controlling the erosion threatening the water board areas of the town.

“Well, it’s may be too early to access the cost implications of the Idah water works , it’s not what we cannot do , with the cooperation of the state government”, he said .

According to the zonal engineer of Idah water board, Engineer Akoje Joseph, the water system was to deliver 1m cubic litre of water to the beneficiaries in communities, but collapsed finally in 2012,

However, the Ata Igala who was represented by Inalogwu Ata , His Royal Highness , Ibrahim Atadoga thanked the HYPPADEC Boss and his team in his bid to rehabilitate the abandoned water works and monitoring of the water flood in his areas.

He assured the managing director of HYPPADEC of his unalloyed support, to ensure he fulfill his mission in his ancestral land and the state in general .