The reappointed managing director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, has assured communities within its mandate of new intervention initiatives.

Mr Sadiq-Yelwa said this on Wednesday, shortly after assuming office for his second term, during an inspection visit to the Mana Water Works in Bida, Niger. He promised to resolve the 15-year water challenges in Bida town and its environs.

Mr Sadiq-Yelwa said concerted efforts would be made to revive and complete the Bida water scheme. According to him, the inspection is to assess the level of work at the site, which he confirmed had reached 70 per cent completion.

Mr Sadiq-Yelwa emphasised that his second term would witness “thinking outside the box” towards mobilising resources to finance some of the interventions that would positively impact the commission’s communities.

He said the commission would achieve this through partnerships with state governments, the National Assembly, traditional leaders, and others, rather than relying solely on the federal government for funding.

He said the commission had installed a 5MB transformer and connected it to a 33KVA line from two smaller, abandoned transformers on an 11KVA power line to improve the power supply to the project.

Mr Sadiq-Yelwa assured that N-HYPPADEC would partner with relevant agencies to revive the waterworks. According to him, access to clean and safe potable water remains a priority for the commission in its commitment to improving the lives of people in host communities.

He said the Muregi and Ketso resettlement centres had been completed and were awaiting allocation to potential beneficiaries.

The director-general of the Niger State Sewage and Water Corporation, Gimba Isa, applauded the intervention of N-HYPPADEC in ensuring the revival of the waterworks for the benefit of over 600,000 people.

He pledged to inform the state government about other challenges facing the people of the area, such as water treatment plants and reticulation, as well as pumping machines.

Similarly, Ibrahim Adamu-Haruna, the head of the electrical division of the commission, stated that the commission had expended ₦308 million on the project, adding that the 29 items listed for supply and installation had been completed.

N-HYPPADEC MD had earlier visited the Etsu Nupe and the chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar.

He used the occasion to brief him on the challenges hindering the project’s completion.

Mr Sadiq-Yelwa also urged the first-class traditional ruler to pray for the success of the administration’s task and commended him for all the support he had given to the commission.

Responding, the Etsu Nupe decried years of lack of portable pipe-borne water in Bida town and environs.

 (NAN)