•1,900 communities to benefit from HYPADEC scheme

The National Union of Electricity Generation and Transmission Employees (NUEGTE) has said the lives of its members at the Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station, Niger State, are in danger due to terrorist attacks in the area.

NUEGTE Zonal Organising Secretary (North), Emmanuel Godwin, said this while speaking with journalists at the internally-displaced persons (IDP) camp in the Day Secondary School, Shiroro, on Monday.

Niger has been plagued by activities of bandits and, in recent times, Boko Haram terrorists, which led to loss of lives, abduction of residents and destruction of properties, including farmlands.

Godwin said the presence of IDPs at the school, which is close to the station, was a security threat to both the workers and the hydro facilities.

His words: “By now, we don’t know whether the IDP camp is already infiltrated by the terrorists. We can’t identify a terrorist by mere looking at their face, only when he or she acts.

“Few days ago, we heard that an IDP camp was razed in Borno State. We know that the people did not just put fire on the camp; but it was set ablaze by terrorists. We don’t want the same to happen here.”

He called on the Federal Government to deploy more security personnel to safeguard electricity installations and workers.

NO fewer than 1,900 communities will benefit from the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) economic scheme in six states, aimed at improving the livelihood of hydro dam communities.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of HYPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, said this at a workshop for the new staff of the commission in Minna, Niger State.

Yelwa said the commission was determined to implement all measures approved by the Federal Government for the development of hydro dam communities. He, however, appealed to the communities to be patient, as the commission embarks on its developmental plans.

The MD/CEO urged the new employees to make effort towards achieving the main goals of the commission, which, he said, included “improving access to social services of the targeted communities of the HYPADEC, enhancing sustainable agricultural productivity, accelerating economic growth, increasing food security and reducing rural poverty.”

He said the workshop was organised for the new staff in 19 area offices across six states of Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Benue and Kebbi, to sensitise them on the mandate of the commission.

Yelwa said the Federal Government provided adequate funds for the take-off of the commission after 12 years of establishment.

The commission, established by HYPADEC Establishment Act 87 of 2010, was charged with the responsibility of managing the ecological menace due to dams operations and other hydroelectric power activities in the hydro power producing areas of Nigeria. (The Guardian)

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