N-HYPPDEC boss calls state of emergency on flooding to mitigate loss of lives, farmlands

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPDEC) has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on flooding to mitigate its destructive impact on communities and agricultural lands nationwide.

The Managing Director HYPPDEC, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, made the call at a press conference in Minna, Niger State on Monday.

He explained that declaring a state of emergency on flooding especially in N- HYPPADEC member states will reposition relevant agencies and critical stakeholders to not only take proactive measures in containing the devastating effect of the floods, but also remain on the alert to ensure prompt response to possible occurrence in weeks to come.

Yelwa disclosed that according to reports from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), this year, flood has so far claimed nearly 200 lives, displaced over 208, 000 people in 28 of the country’s 36 states, and washed away many homes and farmlands

He also stated that 80 per cent of the worst hit states are N-HYPPADEC member states, mostly due to their location and the electricity generation activities taking place in the states.

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“We want to further draw the attention of relevant stakeholders to situation and plights of our communities as reports indicated that the situation could get worse in coming days.

“Because preliminary report from the Commission’s officers revealed that in Benue State ,a total of 634 communities have been affected with nearly 30,000 farmlands washed away, in Kebbi State, 6,959 households have been affected with about 10,000 farmlands washed away while one life is lost.

“In Niger State, we recorded loss of seven lives to an incidence in Magama and Mashegu Local Government Areas along Mokwa-New Bussa Federal Highway.

“The situation is similar in Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna states. This poses a very serious threat to President Bola Tinubu’s quest for food security and wealth creation in the country,” he said.