Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, Managing Director of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) said that the Commission would continue to tackle challenges faced by hydroelectric power producing communities.

Yelwa gave the assurance on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of a five-day governing council retreat for the development of strategic plan for the Commission held in Port Harcourt.

“The ecological issues faced by the devastating communities with rain overflooding their farms, homes, schools and hospitals are so enormous that it deprives them the opportunity to improve their livelihoods.

“We had done need assessment and enumeration exercise where we visited 227 political wards that are within the six states that makes up the composition of the hydro electrical power communities.”

He noted that the Commission has members of the council that represents Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau and Benue states on the board.

Yelwa stated that this led to the identification of the challenges and priorities of the communities with hydro electrical power.

“We have been able to identify 150 communities that need immediate pipe borne water provision and have submitted the request to the bureau of public procurement for the award of solar power boreholes to over 120 communities.

“There are plans on ground to rehabilitate dilapidated primary and secondary schools, primary health centres.

“This is not to compete with existing government at the areas but to give intervention and immediate succour to the affected communities within the Commission’s jurisdictions,“ he said.

The Managing Director said that the Commission had also paid for the registration of over 220 indigent students in affected communities for the upcoming West African Examination Council and National Examination Council.

“We have set up enabling environment that can enable the communities feel the impact of the Commission in their areas,” Yelwa said,

In his speech, Mr Ekpo Nta, Chairman of Salary, Income and Wages Commission, advised the HYPPADEC management to keep to its mandate and fulfil promises made to the people.

Nta, who is also the keynote speaker at the retreat, spoke on the theme ”HYPPADEC high moves, failed promises learning from the past agencies”.

He urged the Commission to partner with other organisations and choose its representative based on competence not by sentiment to achieve success in the Commission.

“You should also tackle the issue of women and youth unemployment to ensure success in your Commission,” he said.