By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The early completion of the river Gurara embarkment project awarded at the contract sum of N700m by the National – Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission ( HYPPADEC), is a priority in order to save over 30 communities from flooding disaster this rainy season.
The Managing Director of National Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission N-HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa stated this during inspection visit to ascertain the level of works going on at the project site in Muye, Lapai local government of Niger state.
While urging the contractor handling the project to speed up works in the ongoing River Gurara embarkment construction, the Managing Director stressed the urgent need for the safety of homes and farmlands of Muye and other communities being affected by the river whenever it splits over its banks.
Represented by the Director of Finance and Administration, Haruna Jimoh Gabi, the Managing Director assured that the project will steadily be delivered soon while allaying fears about delays by affected communities.
He said, ” I am satisfied with the level of work done so far. However let me emphasis here that the construction must not deviate from the standards set out in the contract. The project has a total contract value of N700 million and the contractor has been adequately mobilised to avoid unnecessary delays or request for variations”.
He explained that although the project had previously encountered delay due to technical issues, it was meant to be completed within six months, adding that, “I therefore call on the contractor and project consultant to work together for speedy progress”.
He recalled that members of the community had initially expressed fears about the completion of the project following two previous unsuccessful attempts to construct an embankment in the area.
” I want to reassure the people that N-HYPPADEC has the experience and capacity to deliver the project successfully, noting that the commission had put the necessary measures in place to ensure its timely completion.
In a remark, the Amana of Muye, Alhaji Salihu Mohammed commended the management of N-HYPPADEC for the quick response, adding that, ” the timely completion of the embankment would improve on the livelihoods of over 30 communities affected by floods annually as result of the activity of the river Gurara”.
