Indigenes of Muye/Egba Ward in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State have appealed to the Federal Government to provide additional funding to the National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) to speed up the construction of an embankment designed to control perennial flooding in the community and neighbouring villages.
The Village Head of Muye and Amana Kakanda, Salihu Mohammed, made the appeal during an inspection of the ongoing project, expressing concern over the slow pace of work and the devastating impact of recurrent flooding on residents’ social and economic activities. He said the timely completion of the embankment would help protect lives, property and farmlands from further destruction.
Mohammed said more than 30 farming communities have continued to record huge losses due to persistent flooding. While commending N-HYPPADEC for intervening in the area, he urged the Federal Government to provide the commission with more funds to enable it complete the project without delay.
Meanwhile, N-HYPPADEC Managing Director, Abubakar Yelwa, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work carried out so far. Yelwa, who was represented by the Director of Finance and Administration, Haruna Gabi, said the inspection was aimed at assessing the progress of the project and ensuring that the contractor was working in line with approved specifications.
He said the contractor remained active on site, while consultants were closely monitoring the project to ensure compliance with required standards and prevent any deviation from the approved design. Yelwa also assured the community that N-HYPPADEC had the experience and capacity to successfully complete the project, despite concerns arising from two previous unsuccessful attempts to construct an embankment in the area.
The N-HYPPADEC boss said the project, valued at N700 million, had been prioritised by the commission, with the contractor adequately mobilised to prevent unnecessary delays or requests for contract variations. He commended the contractor for the progress recorded, insisting that the work was proceeding according to schedule.
Also speaking, the member representing Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Abdullahi Mahmud, commended N-HYPPADEC and the Federal Government for intervening in the flood-prone community.
Mahmud urged residents to remain patient and support efforts aimed at completing the embankment, noting that similar demands for flood-control infrastructure were being made by communities across the country. He said government must address these challenges within available resources while ensuring that vulnerable communities receive the necessary intervention.
