N-HYPPADEC Intensifies Flood Control, Water Safety Campaign in Kebbi Riverine Communities

By Bello Ibrahim 





















ARGUNGU - The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, N-HYPPADEC, has urged residents of flood-prone communities in Kebbi State to take early steps to reduce the impact of seasonal flooding.
The Managing Director of the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, made the call on Saturday during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila Mera. The visit was part of the commission’s flood sensitisation campaign across the state.
Sadiq-Yelwa said the engagement was aimed at encouraging communities to take responsibility for basic flood prevention measures instead of depending entirely on government.  
“Our visit today is to sensitise communities on the need to be proactive,” he said. “People should not wait for government to do everything. There are things they can do on their own, such as desilting drains and clearing waterways.”
He, however, assured that N-HYPPADEC would intervene where the problem was beyond community capacity.  
“Where the challenge is beyond what the people can do, the commission will step in,” he said. “We have identified a community in Argungu that needs extensive desilting and we will support them to prevent flooding this rainy season.”
The Managing Director expressed optimism that sustained public enlightenment would reduce the annual loss of lives and property caused by flooding.
As part of the visit, Sadiq-Yelwa presented 100 life jackets to the Emir of Argungu for distribution to boat and canoe operators. He described the donation as part of a wider water safety programme being implemented in all N-HYPPADEC mandate states.
He said the distribution of safety equipment had significantly reduced fatalities from boat accidents.  
“From our assessment, the use of life jackets has reduced deaths from boat mishaps by about 60 per cent,” he said. “A life jacket can keep a victim afloat for up to six hours, giving rescue teams enough time to arrive.”
Sadiq-Yelwa disclosed that the commission distributed about 20,000 life jackets across its mandate areas in 2025 and plans to distribute more than 50,000 additional jackets before the end of 2026.  
“Our priority is prevention, not waiting to respond after a tragedy has occurred,” he said.
He also called on traditional rulers to step up awareness among boat operators on safety rules, including avoiding night travel and operating boats under the influence of drugs.  
“Compliance with these safety measures will drastically reduce boat accidents,” he said.
The Managing Director further announced that the commission would evacuate about 6,000 linear metres of drainage channels from Bachaka to the Old Mosque near the Kanta Museum in Argungu to improve water flow.  
“We are also sensitising the public against building on waterways and drainage channels,” he said. “Residents are being educated on what to do before, during and after floods.”
According to him, N-HYPPADEC also plans to donate a modern boat to the Argungu Emirate to improve access to riverine communities. He added that the commission would survey alternative access routes and construct emergency shelters for persons displaced by floods.
Sadiq-Yelwa reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working closely with traditional institutions.  
“The support of traditional rulers is critical to the success of our intervention programmes,” he said.
Responding, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila-Mera, commended N-HYPPADEC for its sustained efforts to reduce the impact of flooding.  
“We appreciate all that N-HYPPADEC is doing for our communities,” he said. “We pray for more successes for the commission despite the funding challenges.”
The Emir urged hydroelectric power companies benefiting from the Kainji Dam to fulfil their statutory financial obligations to the commission.  
He also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure prompt release of statutory allocations to N-HYPPADEC before FAAC disbursements.  
“The interventions of this commission are vital to the safety and development of hydroelectric power-producing communities,” Samaila-Mera said.