Youths from Niger State in support of agitations for the Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to give his assent for the creation and speedy take-off of the commission.
Creation of HYPPADEC will not only help in alleviating the challenges of the riverline communities in the five states along the course of River Niger, including Niger State but create jobs for hundreds of jobless youths in rural and urban areas in Niger state.
The President, National Youth Movement for the Creation of HYPPADEC, Jibrin Abdullahi Muregi, made the position of youths known when he led members of the group on a courtesy call on the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Niger State, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Ladan.
Muregi said that the organization has been advocating and working towards the creation and take-off of HYPPADEC since 2008, adding that developments in Nigeria today has rekindled their hope for the coming on board of HYPPADEC.
Communities along the bank of River Niger are not finding life easy due to the activities of the three hydro power generating dams; Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba.
‘While Nigerians are happy with electricity generated, the ‘‘Goose that lays the golden egg is suffering’’, Muregi said.
The host communities who are predominantly farmers and fishermen in most cases have their farmlands and homes washed away due to the activities at the three hydro producing dams hence the need for the creation of HYPPADEC to carter for the needs of the affected communities.
Receiving the group, the SSG, Alhaji Ibrahim Isa Ladan, commended the youths for being orderly and peaceful in their agitations which he said was a move in the right direction aimed at sharing in the pains of the affected riverline communities have been going through.
“Struggle for the actualization of HYPPADEC is a patriotic move to help communities neglected after sacrificing their lands and ancestral homes for the construction of Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro hydroelectric dams”, the SSG said.
Isa Ladan told the youths that, the HYPADDEC member-states have been brainstorming and will come up with workable solutions on how best to approach the realization of the full establishment and take-off of the Commission soon.
The SSG also commended efforts made by former governors and legislators from the HYPPADEC states for their doggedness, commitments and follow ups that led to the passage and assent of the bill by the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in 2010.
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