From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Managing director of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa said plans has been concluded to relocate over 180 households in Edeha community living under the Murtala Muhammad Bridge in Kogi Local Government of Kogi state.
The Managing Director disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders meeting for dissemination of report on the outcome of Needs Assessment Exercise conducted by the Commission on Thursday in Lokoja.
He pointed out that HYPPADEC would build 250 two-bedroom flats for the 180 households in the Edeha community which is prone to flood was always submerged by floods and had to relocate to higher ground till the floods receded.
Dr.Yelwa added that the Commission approached the traditional ruler in the area and was allocated land for the resettlement project but required government approval.
The HYPPADEC Managing Director said the team came to the state today with the Bill of Quantity for the project in the hope that government would ratify the approval paper for the commission to commence work on the project.
Dr Lillian Iwu, Programme Financial Adviser of “New Approach”, HYPPADEC partners, warned the benefiting households not to resell the houses and go back to their former settlements urging the state government to put the evacuated land to use to discourage the resettled households from going back to inhabit the place.
Iwu said that the resettlement project was a way of helping the families especially, young ones, children and pregnant women adding, “If we relocate them to a new settlement, life will make better meaning to them.”
Alhaji Isa Ozi Salami, Member, HYPPADEC Governing Council representing Kogi State expressed gratitude to Kogi Government for it’s support to the Commission and especially for displaying transparency.
He however urged the government to expedite action in processing the land documents for the resettlement project to commence.
Gov. Yahaya Bello, represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward David Onoja commended HYPPADEC for its laudable programmes with direct bearing on the citizens of the state.
He also appreciated the Commission for the training of 460 youths from the state, planned provision of 1,250 motorcycles to flood affected communities, mobile clinics and Primary Health Care facilities for the various communities.
A one-day stakeholders meeting on the dissemination of report on the outcome of Needs Assessment Exercise conducted by (HYPPADEC) and development through technical partner in kogi state.
