Nation

HYPPADEC Considers Using Flood Water For Food Production

Published

1 year ago

May 19, 2023

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) said it is making plans to use the excess flood waters in rivers and dams to help farmers increase food production in the country.
Managing Director, HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, disclosed this in Minna, during a one-day stakeholders meeting on flood mitigation and related issues.
“What we are looking at is to turn the flooding to be an advantage to us. In other words, we want to make our farmers to benefit from the excess flood waters we have in our rivers and dams.
“With this in mind, we are going to convene a meeting with the Local Government Councils and the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development for each HYPPADEC state.
“This is because each community has its peculiarities and a river it can use for its advantages”, he said.
Yelwa, who said that the various communities have their farming system, added that the commission would provide the farmers with high yielding crops/seeds in order to increase food production.
“If a farmer can get good irrigation and high yielding rice seeds that can stay for only three months before harvest, with that you will be able to do your farming activities, harvest and take your crops home”, he said.
He noted that another challenge facing government in relocating people living in flood prone areas was the attitude of the people not wanting to relocate, adapt to change by relocating to safe places.
“Our people who live and fish along the river bank finds it difficult to leave their ancestral land”, he said.
The Managing Director stressed that the critical role of sensitising the people against flooding lies with the traditional leaders and the Local Government Councils because they are closer to the people.
Yelwa said the meeting was for the communities in the operation areas of HYPPADEC to look at the challenges they would face in the wet season based on the predictions of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and others and also find a way of mitigating them.

He said based on the past experiences of flooding, that lives and properties may be lost if nothing was done to mitigate it.

“Therefore, we will continue to sensitise ourselves on some basic environmental issues in order to help our environment”, he said.

Similarly, Mrs Zainab Sa’idu, Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency, in charge of Niger and Kwara states, urged stakeholders to sensitise their communities on high, moderate and low flood risks.

Sa’idu advised the public to stop dumping refuse on the waterways to prevent flooding.

Also, Dr Daniel Galadima, the State Commissioner of Environment, said that the ministry was encouraging afforestation to ensure a healthy environment in the state.

“The ministry will continue to plant trees in order to mitigate the effect of flooding in Niger state”, he said.

Galadima, who was represented by Dr Lucky Barau, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said the State Government was ready to partner HYPPADEC to tackle flooding and other environmental degradation.

Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, appealed to HYPPADEC to help in reclaiming lands that have been depleted by erosion across the state.

Abubakar, who was represented by Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, Emir of Agaie, urged the commission to increase its campaign on flooding in order to save the people from destruction.

The Tide’s source reports that the six states where HYPPADEC operates include Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Kebbi and Plateau.

The source also reports that HYPPADEC has begun the construction of houses for flood victims at the resettlement centres in Muregi and Ketso in Mokwa and Edati local government areas of the state.

Nation

NCSU Consoles Elder Statesman Over Daughter’s Death …Tasks Elected Unit Executives On Service Delivery

Published

7 days ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has extended its condolence to an elder statesman in Rivers State, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe over the untimely death of his daughter during child birth, describing it as saddening and unfortunate, and called on the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) chieftain to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.
This is even as NCSU has called on the newly elected executives of the union at the unit level and Ministries in the State Civil Service, to be dedicated to their duties, as well as deliver services that would further help the State to retain its prime position in the comity of States.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in Port Harcourt, said the union seriously empathises and sympathises with Chief Sara-Igbe over the daughter’s death, and urged him never to allow the sad incident to weigh him down, but to remain strong, firm and resolute in championing the cause of Rivers State even in the face of such a tragedy.
Osumah noted that the union is particularly sad over the unfortunate incident, because of the kind of support Chief Sara-Igbe has been giving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing him as a true pillar of strength to the Governor, and enjoined him to continue to contribute meaningfully to the progress and development of the State in spite of obvious challenges and drawbacks.
According to him, history would be kind to Chief Sara-Igbe, when the chips are down, owing to his immense contributions to the State and also for standing on the side of truth, justice, equity and fairness,when it matters most.
Commenting on the election of new unit executives of the union, Osumah said he was glad over the development, and urged the new union officials to be good ambassadors of their units and the union.
He said delivering selfless services to the people of the State should always be their priority, and congratulated them on their successful elections.

Nation

RSG Donates Transformer To Rehabilitation Centre

Published

7 days ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has donated a 500KVA transformer to the Rivers State Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The State Commissioner for Power, Prince Solomon Abel Eke, who handed over the transformer to the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr Illamu Arugu thanked Governor Siminalaye Fubara for the approval and release of the transformer, adding that it would go a long way in solving the power problem at the centre.
“I want to thank God for the Governor that we have, who takes time to look at things meticulously and ensures that our people get service for what they are doing”.
He said following the request by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation for a transformer for the rehab centre, a team of engineers from the Ministry of Power were sent to the area to take cognizance of everything that they need.
“I can assure you that what we are doing or what we are going to do here is going to put to rest everything about power.
“The capacity of this transformer you have here will take care of you even the neighbouring enviroment”, Abel Eke said.
He emphasised the need for them to preserve the transformer, stressing that the transformer has the capacity to generate and distribute electricity within the centre and neighborhood.
The commissioner warned them against allowing people to scale their fence to either vandalise or steal the transformer and described the gesture as a road map for constant power supply in the State.
“We are the only State that has three generating stations in the entire nation and we practically moving towards enjoying 24 hour- power supply in Rivers State”, he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, MrArugu Illamu who was elated for the donation, said it was based on a request by the rehabilitation centre, when he visited the area recently.
Illamu equally thanked Governor Fubara for the gesture and the promptness to which their request was attended to and noted that it was coming at a time the people needed the transformer badly.
He said even caregivers in the centre also needed power, adding that “it is coming at a time that they need it most”.
Mr Ilamu also commended the Governor for approving transformer to the Safe Home, Borokiri, adding that the Governor has so far given approval for the three transformers requested by the Ministry and prayed that the last transformers for the Children Home and Remand Home should be delivered as well for them to have some level of succour.
He said the gesture will go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the people by allowing them to enjoy what he called “ the basics of life”.

Iriebe John Bibor

Nation

Community Hails Fubura Over Perm Sec’s Appointment

Published

7 days ago

September 13, 2024

The Tide

The people of Ogbogolo kingdom in Ahoada -West Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the appointment of their i daughter, Dr. Mrs Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu as the Permanent Secretary of theMinistry of Education.
The Paramount Ruler of the community, King James Rowland, Obenema-Ibe III of Ogbogolo Kingdom made the commendation when he led a delegation of elite members of his kingdom on a courtesy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary at the State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
The Paramount Ruler asserted that Dr Uzoma-Nwogu was the first person from his Kingdom to be given an enviable appointment as a Permanent Secretary, stressing that Ogbogolo Kingdom is very appreciative of the Governor for the honour done to their daughter and the Kingdom at large.
He further prayed God Almighty to give her the wisdom and grace to carry out her duties effectively as would be required by her office and later presented her with an award of honour in recognition of her appointment as Permanent Secretary.
Also speaking, one of the elites in the Kingdom and university lecturer,Dr. Arobo R.C Amachree ,who is the Head of Department of Physics, Rivers State University described the elevation of Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu as meritorious and thanked the Governor for remembering the people of Ogbogolo and prayed God’s wisdom on His Excellency to continue to govern the state while pledging their support.
In her response, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Uzoma-Nwogu thanked her kinsmen for identifying with and for the respect and honour they accorded her and solicited for their support and prayers.

Akujobi Amadi