Northeast leaders praise Tinubu for allocating N80bn to combat flooding

The North East Stakeholders Forum for Sustainable Development has expressed its appreciation for President Bola Tinubu's decision to allocate N80 billion for flood control measures across the country, which will be disbursed to relevant government agencies and institutions.

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This timely intervention is expected to alleviate the impact of flooding in vulnerable communities, particularly in light of the ongoing heavy rainfall that has prompted authorities to issue warnings about increased flood risks.

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The forum has also commended Abubakar Yelwa, the Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, for taking proactive steps to mitigate the effects of flooding in HYPPADEC member states.

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In a statement signed by National Chairman Murtala Jalingo and Secretary-General Danladi Bawa, the group noted that the federal government's intervention is well-timed and will serve as a crucial step in reducing the devastating impact of flooding in vulnerable communities.

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The statement emphasized that the intervention is both timely and necessary, and the forum is calling for additional funding to effectively control and address the looming challenge of flooding.

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The group has expressed confidence that the allocated funds will be utilized effectively, and believes that the money will be used judiciously to reduce the impact of torrential rains that threaten widespread flash floods across HYPPADEC member states and other parts of Nigeria.

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The forum praised Yelwa's leadership, noting that he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to effective service delivery through regular reviews of ongoing projects and the development of strategies aimed at improving service delivery across member states.

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According to the statement, Yelwa's approach to quality service delivery has strengthened project implementation by ensuring continuous evaluation of departments and field operations, allowing for the identification of operational challenges and the receipt of feedback from field offices.

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The group also applauded HYPPADEC for sustaining its annual flood preparedness campaign, which includes early sensitization programs in flood-prone communities before the commencement of the rainy season.

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HYPPADEC has 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, including the supply of 1,100 life jackets and the installation of solar streetlights in Gombe State.

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In Gombe State, the commission has also provided an operational flying boat to Kupto Community, constructed solar-powered boreholes, desilted drainages, built classrooms, and supported indigent students through the payment of NECO examination fees.

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The forum maintained that HYPPADEC has remained focused on improving the lives of residents, rather than solely concentrating on institutional development, and is living up to the objectives of its establishment.

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In Taraba State, the commission has delivered a 33-seater boat and other safety facilities, distributed 32 power tiller machines to farming cooperatives, and provided two flying boats along the Lau–Karim Lamido and Ibi–Wukari axes to enhance emergency response and mobility.

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The commission has also desilted blocked drainages and culverts covering about 40,000 linear meters across several local government areas in Taraba State, installed transformers in parts of Jalingo, and paid NECO external examination fees for students from power-producing communities.

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The forum's 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.