Annual flooding in Niger ravages communities in Muye, Lapai LGAs

Annual flooding in Niger state has ravaged over 38 communities in Muye, Lapai Local Government Areas.

Member representing Lapai/Agaie federal constituency of the State at the National Assembly, Abuja, Hon. Abdullahi Mahmoud stated this during an inspection tour of the area at Muye in Lapai local government area of Niger state.

As a result of the catastrophe, the National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Commission (N-HYPPADEC)has intervened to construct a new retaining wall at the River Gurara bank causing gulley erosion at Muye and its environs.

He explained that this prompted him to approach N-HYPPADEC for the intervention following the collapse of the initial wall.

Hon. Mahmoud spoke on the impacts of the flooding on the socio-economic activities of the people within the affected communities who have lost their means of livelihood over the years has crippled the socio-economic activities of the people of communities who are predominantly farmers and fishermen.

The Federal legislator applauded the commission for the quick response to intervene by accepting to construction a new long-lasting retaining wall to prevent the erosion from further causing disaster on the lives and properties of the citizens

ALSO READ: Lack of NNPCL, Navy synergy stalling fight against oil theft — Abaribe

According to him, several attempts by the federal government to provide a lasting solution by constructing a retaining wall that would stand the test of time had proved abortive.

The Managing Director, National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa has expressed readiness to construct a new retaining wall to address the effect of persistent flooding affecting those communities.

Represented by the Director of Operation of the Commission, Engineer Ilyasu Wara, who identified engineering failure as the major cause of the collapse of the initial retaining wall constructed to prevent the gully erosion.

He explained further that providing succour to people in the communities ravaged by the devastating effect of flooding is their core mandate, highlighting that the persistent flooding and other forms of environmental degradation were making life unbearable for the inhabitants of hydro power-producing states.

The Sarkin Arewa of Muye, Mohammed Ndagi Mahmud who noted that the communities have faced a lot of nightmares due to the collapse of the walls, appealed to authorities to assist them with the construction of a new one in order to end the suffering of the masses and go a long way to reducing the devastating effects of flooding in Muye and it’s environs in the state.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE