The Member representing Lapai/Agaie federal constituency of Niger State at the National Assembly, Abdullahi Mahmoud has lamented the devastating effect of floods over the years in his constituency that so far ravaged at least 38 communities.
Mahmoud stated this during an inspection tour of a Retaining Wall project intervention at the river Gurara bank constructed by National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Commission (N-HYPPADEC ) at Muye in Lapai local government area of Niger State
The lawmaker explained that in view of this development, he decided to approach N-HYPPADEC for intervention, especially after the collapse of the initial wall and with another raining season approaching to forstal the usual annual flooding.
Lamenting the impact of floods on people of the affected communities, he said, “Over the years, the floods crippled the socio economic activities of communities affected, who are mainly farmers and fishermen. They lose their sources of livelihood.”
Mahmoud then thanked the commission for its swift response and intervention by constructing a new long lasting retaining wall to help prevent erosion as well as further disaster in the affected areas.
“Many attempts by the federal government to provide a lasting solution on the issue proved abortive but today, we have a retaining wall built to last to avert flooding affecting our people,” The lawmaker said.
The commission’s chairman, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, represented by the Director Operation, Ilyasu Abdullahi Wara in his speech, identified engineering failure as the major cause of the collapse of the initial retaining walls constructed.
“Providing succour to people in communities ravaged by devastating effect of flooding is our core mandate because persistent flooding and other forms of environmental degradation are making life unbearable for the inhabitants of hydropower producing states”.
Also, the Sarkin Arewa of Muye, Mohammed Ndagi Mahmud in his address appreciated the commission for coming to the aid of his people, adding, ” Our people faced a lot of nightmares as a result of the collapse of the wall.
