The National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has distributed building materials worth more than N50 million to victims of banditry attacks in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The commission’s Managing Director, Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, stated this on Wednesday during the inauguration of the distribution of the relief materials to affected communities in Borgu.

Mr Yelwa said the intervention followed requests from affected communities for assistance to enable victims to rebuild their homes destroyed during the attacks.

He said the relief package comprised 600 bundles of roofing sheets, 1,000 bags of cement, 60 bags of wood nails and 300 packs of roofing nails, valued at over N50 million.

The managing director sympathised with the victims and assured them of the commission’s continued support to communities affected by insecurity and other disasters within its mandate areas.

He commended the Niger State government, led by Governor Umaru Bago, for its consistent support and interventions aimed at improving the welfare of residents.

Mr Yelwa also urged residents, particularly those in riverine and flood-prone communities, to take precautionary measures against anticipated heavy rainfall.

He advised them to clear drainage channels and avoid practices that could worsen flooding.

The managing director disclosed that N-HYPPADEC had also donated a 35-passenger boat to Borgu Local Government Council, stationed at Musawa Village, to enhance safe water transportation.

He urged residents to make judicious use of the boat and avoid the use of old canoes, overloading and violation of waterway safety regulations.

Mr Yelwa thanked the Emir of Borgu, Haliru Jikantoro-Kitoro II, for his support toward the successful implementation of N-HYPPADEC programmes in the emirate.

He further announced that the ongoing housing project for victims of banditry in Fakun Community would be expanded from 22 to 27 housing units.

He said the commission was satisfied with the level of work at the project site.

In his remarks, the Emir of Borgu appreciated N-HYPPADEC for its timely intervention and support to victims of banditry in the area.

The traditional ruler urged youths to desist from spreading misinformation and negative propaganda on social media, particularly on security issues affecting the emirate.

He said such actions could undermine ongoing efforts to restore peace in the area.

Mr Jikantoro-Kitoro assured the commission that the distribution of the relief materials would be closely supervised to ensure transparency and that only genuine victims benefited from the intervention.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Borgu Local Government Council, Mohammed Nasiru-Abdullahi, commended N-HYPPADEC for its developmental projects and humanitarian interventions across the council area.

He pledged the council’s continued collaboration with the emirate to ensure the seamless and equitable distribution of the donated building materials.

Similarly, the Babanna District Head, Zakari Yaro, who spoke on behalf of the district, expressed appreciation to the commission for its support to affected communities.

Mr Yaro stated that 21 of the 52 communities in the district were affected by banditry, describing the intervention as timely and impactful.

(NAN)