Date: 2022-01-22

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has commenced the distribution of 10,000 life jackets to riverine communities in the six hydro power-producing states of Niger, Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau and Benue. Flagging off the distribution in Minna, the Niger State capital, the managing director of the commission, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, said the purchase and distribution of life jackets to communities in HYPPADEC states was one of its key mandates to save lives in the face of any incident of boat mishap..

He said several lives had been lost through boat mishaps in Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and Plateau states due to the non-availability of life jackets.

He said that of the 10,000 units, 3, 170 units were distributed to the riverine communities in the hydro power-producing local government areas of Niger State, pointing out that the remaining pieces would be sent to the five states.

"Apart from providing life jackets, the commission had also embarked on cutting and removing logs of trees in the rivers because most boat mishaps we recorded were caused by logs of trees in those waters," he said.