Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called on the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to synchronise their intervention activities with the state government to ensure adequate spread and reach.
The governor said the collaboration was necessary to avoid duplication of intervention activities by the state government and HYPPADEC and to save costs for both parties.
The governor stated this today when the management of the commission paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Minna.
Governor Umaru Bago said he has observed the lack of harmonisation of policies and programmes of the commission with those of the state, which has caused duplication of work in some affected communities. He pointed out that his administration has established ministries and agencies to partner with and interface with the commission.
According to him, "Again, I have observed with dismay the lack of synchronisation of your policies and programmes with those of the state; as such, we have created a Ministry for Power and Renewable Energy with terms of reference so that they can interface with you.
"You must streamline your programmes with those of the state because it is going to be absurd to find out that you build schools where we are also building schools just because there is no communication, or you provide life jackets or life support programmes where we have just done that, or food intervention and other interventions.
"But once we synchronise our programmes, we work in tandem with each other and bring out the desired goals that we are looking for ", he added.
The governor said despite the location of four hydroelectric dams in the state and the 32 percent revenue accruals to the state, the people have not felt adequately compensated, urging the commission to increase their interventions and broaden their corporate social responsibility.
The governor promised to continue offering the support of the state government to enable the commission to achieve its mandate.
The commission, led by its Managing Director, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, had earlier told the governor about the various development interventions the commission had undertaken in the state, particularly in areas of housing, disaster management, water supply, education, rural energy, and support for security agencies in the state.
He disclosed that the governor was a strong proponent of HYPPADEC and further extolled his role in the creation of the commission as a lawmaker at the National Assembly, revealing that the commission was operating in 17 local government areas in the state with three area offices.
The MD then called on the state government to continue offering its invaluable support for the commission, expressing delight at the conducive working environment and cordial working relationship the commission has been enjoying in Niger State.
He said the commission will continue to give the state the utmost priority and agreed with the governor that there was a need for the state government and the commission to work closely to achieve the intended objectives of the present administration.