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From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Managing Director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, has reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to flood control, environmental remediation, and sustainable community development during a courtesy visit to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
Yelwa, who led members of the commission’s management committee to the Government House, Gombe, said the engagement was part of N-HYPPADEC’s ongoing familiarisation tour to newly admitted member states, following their inclusion in the commission in June 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He explained that the commission was established to address ecological degradation and socio-economic dislocation arising from hydroelectric dam operations, stressing that while the nation benefits from power generation, host communities often bear disproportionate environmental and livelihood burdens.
Gombe State’s membership of the commission, he noted, is anchored on its hosting of the Dadin Kowa Hydropower Dam, whose operations have exposed surrounding communities to flooding, environmental degradation, and the loss of farmlands and fishing grounds.
According to Yelwa, N-HYPPADEC has recorded measurable interventions in Gombe State since 2024. These include the distribution of 1,100 life jackets to riverine communities to enhance water safety, the provision of a flying boat to the Kupto community in the Funakaye Local Government Area for emergency response, and the installation of 34 solar-powered streetlights across rural communities and parts of Gombe metropolis.
Other interventions listed by the managing director include the supply of 45 power tillers to farming communities and cooperatives to boost agricultural productivity, the construction of 16 solar-powered boreholes to improve access to clean water, and the desilting of 40,000 linear metres of blocked drainages and culverts to mitigate flood risks.
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In the education sector, Yelwa said the commission has constructed three-block classroom buildings in Dukku, Nafada, and Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Areas, with two completed and one ongoing, in addition to sponsoring 30 students through the payment of their NECO examination fees.
Despite these achievements, the managing director acknowledged that the challenges confronting hydroelectric host communities remain complex and require sustained collaboration. He therefore called for a deeper partnership with the Gombe State Government, particularly in flood and environmental mitigation, education and healthcare infrastructure, and livelihood enhancement through agriculture, skills acquisition, and youth entrepreneurship.
Yelwa also sought the state government’s support in establishing N-HYPPADEC area offices across affected locations in the state, noting that such offices are critical for rapid response and needs-based intervention delivery.
He expressed appreciation to the Gombe State Government for facilitating the establishment of the commission’s state office, describing it as a demonstration of commitment to the welfare of host communities.
Responding, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, represented by the Deputy Governor, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, commended N-HYPPADEC for what he described as tangible and impactful interventions and assured the commission of the state government’s continued support and collaboration.
The managing director and his delegation also paid courtesy visits to traditional rulers in Nafada and Funakaye Local Government Areas, as well as the Emir of Deba and Yamaltu in Yamaltu/Deba LGA, as part of the engagement tour.
