President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister for Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, have urged to expedite action on the immediate take-off of Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, HYPADEC, in the area.
Some concerned youths under the aegis of North Central Youth Forum yesterday in a statement lamented that despite the President’s assent to the bill establishing HYPADEC it is yet to commence operation.
Signed by Alhaji Hamzat Idris, (Kwara), Mr. Ishola Olawole (Kogi) and Hajia Hawa Saliu (Kebbi), the statement regretted the non take-off of the commission despite the budgetary allocation of N250 million to it in the 2014 budget.
The group noted that the bill had been passed to the ministry of Power for implementation after the president’s assent and enjoined the Prof. Nebo to play his part on the bill and return it to the presidency for final approval.
According to them, “We have on good authority that the presidency has approved the composition of the management of the commission and that it is only expecting the ministry of Power to return the bill to it for final ratification.
“We made similar appeal to the President in a letter sent to him in December, 2013, saying that copies of the letter were also sent to the Chief of Staff (Presidency), the National Security Adviser, Special Adviser on Political Matters and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“We also recognised your (President Jonathan) good intention which culminated in appending your signature to the bill that established the commission after it was passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, but, we are however constraint to author this letter in view of the importance of the commission to the wellbeing of the people of the North Central zone.”
The statement further maintained that “It is pertinent to mention here that the effect of devastating flood that always ravage most parts of the North-central states during the raining season could only be best addressed by the commission.
“Rather than ad-hoc arrangements, your Excellency will do well by expediting action on the take off of HYPADEC.
“The commission based on the provisions of the Act that established it is better placed to find a lasting solution to the incessant flooding usually occasioned by the release of water from the hydro dams situated in Niger and Kwara states.
“The bill establishing “The Hydro-Electric Power producing areas development commission” vested in it the responsibility of managing the ecological menace due to operations of the Hydro-Dams and related matters.
“We therefore, appeal to your Excellency to immediately constitute the management of the commission since names of those to serve in it have been forwarded to the appropriate quarters since this does not require any confirmation by the national assembly.”
It however expressed hope that such a move, apart from improving the living standard of the people of the entire North Central geopolitical zone, will also endear your Excellency more to our people.