NEWS ANALYSIS
HYPPADEC: Delivering dividends of democracy to host communities

Unarguably, report on the 2022 flooding, especially in the hydroelectric power producing areas of Niger, Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Kebbi and Kwara, is worrisome.
It is in the light of addressing the effects of this that the Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) was established.
It is meant to basically produce interventionist measures to communities affected by the activities of hydroelectricity, especially in host communities.
With its effects such as destruction of lives and property, displacement, negative effects on economic and social life and food production, among others, concerned citizens note that flooding has been recurring in such flood-prone communities across country.
For instance, reports from various response agencies indicate that not less than 20 local governments out of the 25 local government areas of Niger have been affected by flooding caused by rainfall that has resulted in the death of no fewer than 14 people.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) says 20 local governments in the state — Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro and Wushishi — were affected by flooding.
In another HYPPADEC host community of Benue, the state emergency management agency says the flood destroyed no fewer than 20,000 households and 2,000 farmlands, while more than 20 persons sustained injuries.
“No fewer than 134,797 persons have been affected by this flooding in 12 local government areas including Guma, Vandeikya, Otukpo, Katsina-Ala, Makurdi, Apa, Agatu, Tarka, Gboko, Gwer west, Logo and Buruku.
“We have recorded more than 24 deaths, no fewer than 24 persons injured, close to 2,000 hectares of farmlands have been submerged and close to 20,000 households have been affected,” a competent source confirms, pleading anonymity.
Similarly, in Kebbi, flash flood caused the destruction of no fewer than 1,000 houses in Birnin Kebbi, Jega, Shanga, Koko/Besse, Ngaski and Arewa local government areas of the state in 2022.
The state emergency management agency explains that in Jega alone, more than 300 houses were washed away and two persons died, while in Shanga, no fewer than 307 houses were razed in Yar Besse, Dugu tsohowa, Tungar Tsamiya and Hundege villages.
These woes have been the lifelong cry since the river Benue and Niger passed through these communities, villages and towns, analysts observe.
President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated HYPPADEC in December 2020 to cushion the ecological, socioeconomic and psychological effects of the dams on the communities that suffered a great deal of imbalances from the projects without commiserate reward to bridge the gap created in their lives.
At a recent retreat, the Chairman of HYPPADEC, Mr Joseph Ityav, explained that the commission was set to commence addressing the lingering challenges of the hydroelectric power producing communities.
He stated that HYPPADEC had carried a need assessment of the 227 political wards under the commission’s coverage area, adding that the major challenge of the majority of the communities was ecological problem.
“We have gone round, we have looked at those issues, we have come back and sat down, we are trying to see how we can begin to alleviate some of the hardships being experienced by those communities.
“With the kind of board and the management staff we have in place, we are assuring Nigerians that HYPPADEC will be a success story, we are very confident that soon, you will begin to see projects being executed by HYPPADEC,” the chairman stated.
Also, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq, said that the commission discovered that the major issues in the host communities were that during rainy seasons, the communities become devastated because their farms, homes, schools, hospitals and business premises are flooded.
“The ecological challenges they are faced with are enormous, which deprive them of the chances to improve even on their livelihoods, those are the major challenges the communities are really going through.
He stated that more than 227 political wards were assessed to know their basic needs and challenges and their most pressing needs in their order of priority.
Residents in these communities note that the commission has been touching the lives of the host communities in various aspects over the years.
According to them, the commission has also given intervention in the areas of education, housing, entrepreneurial programmes as well as transportation safety in all the six states under its operation.
The commission has also proposed an overall resource requirement of N359 billion to finance its five-year Medium Term Strategic Plan, according to Mr Sam Juwe, HYPPADEC consultant.
“HYPPADEC requires a total indicative investment size of N323 billion to fund its interventions over the next five years.
“These figures were arrived at following a baseline study conducted by the commission in flood-ravaged communities from the HYPPADEC states in the country.
“The essence of the proposed Medium Term Strategic Plan (HMTSP) from 2022 to 2027 HMTSP is to articulate and present the development thrusts and strategies for achieving them during the five-year period.
“Fortunately, the plan shows the policy direction and courses in all the eight mandate areas, including education, health, road infrastructure, energy, agriculture, water resources, entrepreneurship and environment.
“They will also serve as a veritable tool for the mobilisation of civil society organisations and the private sector as well as development partners at all levels,” he said.
Juwe further explained that HMTSP had set forth the framework for collaboration and partnership among the commission, state governments, the local governments, the private sector and development partners, to meet the target.
The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, said that the commission had planned, under its housing scheme, to build two-bedroom apartments for the neediest victims in the flood affected communities.
He said that as a lasting solution to the flood challenges, the commission had brought the issue of dredging to the front burner to help to ameliorate the danger flooding is inflicting on the citizens.
Yelwa also pledged to give out more motorcycles to riverine communities to beef up security and hope to address post-harvest issues and make youth’s transformation and scholarship an all-inclusive intervention.
The communities affected by the operations of the HYPPADEC would definitely see the difference in their ways of lives through the interventionist approach towards complementing major projects by the National Emergency Management Agency, states emergency management agencies as well as development partners.
All in all, stakeholders warn that the dream for establishing the commission must not be allowed to be derailed such as other laudable people-oriented democracy dividends.
According to them, the commission must continue to be fully funded to carry out its interventions without hindrance for the good of the host communities.