By Stephen Adeleye.
The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), has embarked on a technical assessment aimed at revitalising the one-million liter daily capacity moribund Idah Water Works in Kogi State.
The Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Sadiq Abubakar Yelwa, while speaking at Atta Igala palace in Idah, shortly after assessing the moribund facility, said the intervention was in response to the request by the paramount ruler.
According to him, the Atta Igala, HRM Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa, had recently appealed to the commission to help rehabilitate the moribund plant when N-HYPPADEC management paid a courtesy visit to his palace.
Yelwa emphasised the need for the on-the-spot assessment to evaluate the extent of its dilapidation.
He noted that the One million liters capacity per day moribund water treatment plant, was a large volume but not beyond the capacity of the commission.
“We are in the Idah Water Works to look at the state of the abandoned facility, evaluate the challenges and see what intervention N-HYPPADEC can render, in collaboration with Kogi Government to resuscitate the plant.
“The aim is to make it work and to make life easy for the people living in Idah and surroundings.
“I have seen a neglected facility that should have been put to use for long; a facility that has the capacity to improve the life of the people, if only given the attention it requires.
“I am therefore, delighted with the commitment of Kogi Government by instructing the State Ministry of Water Resources to collaborate with N-HYPPADEC and see what we can do to rehabilitate the Waterworks”, Yelwa said.
He noted that the N-HYPPADEC team few months ago, visited Gov. Ahmed Ododo, where the governor expressed his willingness to collaborate with the commission in any intervention that would benefit his people.
The N-HYPPADEC managing director urged the paramount ruler to sensitise his people in riverine communities on the need to relocate to upland due to impending floods in the state.
In his response, Atta Igala described the N-HYPPADEC managing director as “part of the community being a chief in the Kingdom.
Atta Igala, who was represented by the Inalogu-Atta, HRH, Ibrahim Atadoga, appreciated Yelwa for always seeking the good of the Kingdom and fulfilling his pledge of resuscating the abandoned Idah water works.
“With this development, the people of the ancient city of Idah will soon heave a sigh of relief as the N-HYPPADEC steps out to rehabilitate the water treatment plant abandoned 12 years ago,” the royal father said.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the facility assessment tour, the Kogi Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Danladi Farouq, said the one million liter-capacity water treatment plant had been abandoned since 2012.
Represented by Mr Omakoji Alhassan, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Farouq expressed hope that the N-HYPPADEC intervention in collaboration with the State Government, would revive the plant to its expected standard for full operation.
