By Abdulazeez Maccido
For more than a decade, the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) operated under the Act of 2010, with a clear mandate to address the ecological challenges faced by communities hosting Nigeria’s hydroelectric dams: flooding, erosion, displacement, and environmental degradation.
These challenges have continued to exert negative effects on member communities without any compensation from the government. With the passage of the *Electricity Act 2023* and under the purposeful leadership of its pioneer Managing Director, *Mal. Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa (Katukan Yauri)*, the commission’s name and mandate were significantly expanded, strengthening its role within Nigeria’s broader regional development framework and leading to its transformation into the *National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC)*.
Initially covering *Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, and Benue*, N-HYPPADEC expanded in *2023* to include *Kaduna, Taraba, Gombe, and Nasarawa*. This widened its reach and strengthened its capacity to respond to dam-related hazards across the country, where communities have long contended with poverty, poor water access, weak infrastructure, and heightened environmental risk.
In *2021*, in line with the *Renewed Hope Agenda*, the government appointed *Mal. Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa (Katukan Yauri)* to reposition the commission, improve coordination, restructure institutions, and deliver projects that reach communities effectively. Recognizing that water is essential for life, and according to the N-HYPPADEC Press Secretary, *Nura Wakil*, the commission prioritized clean drinking water delivery. This led to the construction of *over 800 solar-powered boreholes* in rural and riverine communities, aimed at reducing waterborne diseases and easing the daily hardship of travelling long distances in search of safe water.
As recently released, the commission has also scaled interventions in mobility, safety, and resilience. It distributed *fibre boats and thousands of life jackets* to riverine communities, and delivered major flood control infrastructure including the *Koton Karfe flood control project*, rehabilitation works on the *Idye Basin in Makurdi*, and a *1,200-metre drainage system* to curb perennial flooding. Hydraulic drains, culverts, and access roads have been executed across *Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi*.
In education, N-HYPPADEC has built and rehabilitated *over 180 classroom blocks* and paid *NECO and UTME fees* for thousands of indigent students. *As recently released*, the commission has also launched digital learning hubs in three pilot communities and provided science kits to over 50 rural schools to improve STEM access. For youth empowerment, it has trained *over 5,000 youths* in vocational skills and, as recently released, rolled out a micro-grant scheme supporting 1,200 graduates of its training programme to start small businesses.
Healthcare access has been another focus. The commission runs *periodic free medical outreaches* in remote communities and has equipped several health centres. *As recently released*, N-HYPPADEC completed the upgrade of 12 primary health centres with solar power and maternity kits, and deployed mobile clinics to riverine areas during the rainy season. It has also constructed *over 500 housing units* for communities displaced by flooding and dam-related hazards across *Benue, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, and Niger*, and strengthened security through the renovation of the *Police Mobile Barracks in Gashish, Plateau State*, and the distribution of *over 2,500 motorcycles* for patrols in hard-to-reach areas.
On infrastructure and livelihoods, the commission provided a *33kVA transformer* for the *Minna Water Works in Bida*, reviving service for large populations. In agriculture, it distributed *850 power tillers*, subsidized fertilizers, knapsack sprayers, and other tools. *As recently released*, N-HYPPADEC has also established three irrigation clusters in Niger and Kebbi, supporting dry-season farming for over 4,000 smallholder farmers.
The remarkable performance of N-HYPPADEC under the stewardship of its pioneer Managing Director, *Mallam Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa (Katukan Yauri)*, is worthy of commendation. A distinguished patriot, nationalist, and administrator, his commitment to the success and progress of the commission has been exemplary and worthy of emulation. He has taken HYPPADEC to greater heights through purposeful leadership, accountability, and service delivery. This success would not have been possible without the dedication and professionalism of the management and staff of the commission, whose adherence to the ethics of work and loyalty to the Renewed Hope vision deserve immeasurable appreciation and accolades.
There is no doubt that under *Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa (Katukan Yauri)*, N-HYPPADEC has advanced the *Renewed Hope Agenda* of *His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR*, improving living conditions and creating environments conducive to productivity. The administration has also been recognized for financial discipline, ranking *19th* by the *ICPC* among over *350* federal MDAs.
*Lessons for the North West Commission* are clear: success comes from coordinated, community-centered interventions that translate ecological protection into real human and economic development. Prioritize clean water, mobility, education, health, and livelihoods, and measure impact at the grassroots, from the ward to the polling unit.
Emilokan Northern Movement
Abdulazeez Maccido
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