From Rashidat AbdulRahman, Minna
The Governor of Niger State, Umar Mohammed Bago has called on the National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, NHYPPADEC, to synchronize its intervention activities with the state government to ensure adequate spread and reach.
Governor Bago said the collaboration was necessary to avoid duplication of intervention activities by the state government and NHYPPADEC and to save costs for both parties .
The governor stated this on Tuesday when the management committee of the commission paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Minna.
He observed the lack of harmonization of policies and programmes of the Commission with those of the state has caused duplication of work in affected communities, pointing out that his administration has established ministries and agencies to partner and interface with the Commission.
According to the Governor, “I have observed with dismay the lack of synchronization of your policies and programmes with that 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 the commission.
“You should 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 support programmes where we have just done that or food intervention and other interventions.
“Once we synchronize our programmes, we work in tandem with each other and bring out the desired goals that we are looking for,” Bago said.
The governor said the state being host to four hydro-electric dams, with 32 percent revenue accrue to it, the people of the state are not adequately compensated.
He urged the Commission to increase its interventions and broadened corporate social responsibility and thanked them for the visit, assuring the Commission of the state government’s continued support to enable it achieve its mandate.
Earlier, the Managing Director, NHYPPADEC, Alh Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, informed the governor of the various interventions the Commission had undertaken in the state, particularly in the areas of housing, disaster management, water supply, education, rural energy and support for security agencies.
He disclosed that the governor was a strong proponent of NHYPPADEC as he played an important role in the creation of the commission, revealing that the commission was operating in 17 local government areas in the state with three area offices.
While expressing delight over the conducive environment and cordial working relationship the commission has been enjoying in Niger State, the MD called on the state government to continue offering its invaluable support to the commission.
The MD said the Commission will continue to give the state utmost priority and agreed with the governor that there was need for the state government and the commission to work closely to achieve the intended objectives of the present administration.
