By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Federal Government on Thursday commissioned and handed over the N420 Million Koton/Karfe Erosion Control Project executed by the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to Kogi State government.
The Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume who commissioned the project said it was significant in view of the devastating effects of 2022 flood in the area when the Abuja- Lokoja highway was completely submerged.
Akume who was represented by a Director in the SGF’s Office, Mr. Simon Tyungu pointed out that the people of the eastern plank of the country and Nigerians plying Lokoja- Abuja highway suffered untold hardship during previous flooding.
Senator Akume commended HYPPADEC for the giant strides towards the erosion control project in Koto/Karfe by awarding the contract to a competent contractor to protect the lives and property of the people of the community and its environs.
He reiterated the commitment of the federal government and President Bola Tinubu to take proactive measures to save lives and property of the people of Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Kogi State governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo express gratitude to the federal government for quick response the devastating effect of 2022 floods in the state.
Governor Ododo who was represented at the commissioning ceremony by his Deputy, Joel Oyibo Salifu said “today is very significant and milestone for the people of the State. The 2022 flood was a very big disaster in the State.”
He commended HYPPADEC for their commitment in bringing the project to reality, along other interventions projects in the State.
HYPPADEC Managing Director, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa pointed out that the intervention became necessary following the serious weather effects that ravaged 10 local government areas in the state including, Kogi local government of the State where the project was citted.
Yelwa commended the people of Koton/Karfe community for their resilience and cooperation while the project lasted, urging them to protect the project so that the aims of its execution in the area would not be defeated.
The Managing Director charged the people in the area not to turn the water channel to a refuse dump which may block the waterways and cause flooding in the community.
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