The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), has distributed over 10,000 life-jackets to boat operators to curb spate of boat mishap in Kebbi State.

HYPPADEC’s Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq-Yauri, stated this at the inauguration of life-jackets distribution exercise on Monday in Yauri, Kebbi State.

He said, “we deem it expedient for the distribution to be flag off in Yauri, considering the fact that 70 per cent of the River Niger waters are in Yauri Emirate.

“Similarly, Yauri Emirate has recorded higher rate of boat mishap lately where many lives and property lost to the incidents.

“We are distributing 10,000 life-jackets as part of measures taken, sequel to our engagements with various stakeholders along the riverine communities in order to tackle the menace of incessant boat mishaps in the state.”

According to him, over 20,000 life-jackets will be distributed to boat operators in the Commission’s jurisdictional communities before the end of 2022.

Sadiq-Yauri said the Commission would also train 5,000 youths under its skills acquisition programme in the affected communities across the six HYPPADEC states.

He said the the programme was designed to expose the youths to various trades to enable them to engage in productive activities and become self-reliant.

“The aim is to assist the youths in the communities to acquire various skills, have cognitive knowledge on financial management and knowledge as well as master the art of crisis management the business owners face in their various dealings,” he said.

He commended the Emirs of Yauri and Gwandu, Dr Zayyanu Abdullahi and Alhaji Muhammad Bashir as well as the state government for their contributions towards ensuring successful implementation of its programmes in the state.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu, said the state government had procured 15 speed boats in the past three years to enhance water transportation in the state.

Bagudu, represented by Abubakar Chika-Ladan, Commissioner for Works and Transport, said that five of the boats were distributed to operators in Yauri on soft loans while five boats donated to the marine police to assist in waterways’ patrols and two others to the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

The government, he said, was concerned about what is happening in the waterways in the state.

Bagudu lauded the Commission over the desilt project in River Niger and distribution of life-jackets to boat operators in the state.

Earlier, Mr Yusuf Birma, Yauri Area Manager of NIWA, commended the Commission and the state government for complementing their efforts in securing the riverine waterways in the state.

“In 2022 budget; NIWA plans to establish inland port in Yauri as our engineers conducted the survey as part of the processes of setting up a port,” he said.

In his remarks, the Emir of Yauri, Dr Zayyanu Abdullahi, commended the gesture and urged the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the life-jackets to safeguard lives and properties.

NAN reports that the HYPPADEC Establishment Act, No. 87, 2010, stipulates that the Commission shall, among other things, formulate policies and guidelines for the development of hydroelectric power producing areas.

Others are to carry out survey of hydroelectric power producing areas to ascertain measures necessary to promote its physical development and prepare schemes designed to promote the physical developments of the hydroelectric power producing areas.

HYPPADEC is also to implement all measures approved for the development of hydroelectric power producing areas by the Federal Government.

It is also to tackle ecological problems that arise from overloading of dams in the hydroelectric power producing areas and advise the federal and state governments on the prevention and control of floods and environmental hazards.