The Managing Director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Abubakar Yelwa, has officially resumed for his second term, pledging to tackle the long-standing water supply challenges facing Bida and its surrounding communities.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Yelwa marked the beginning of his renewed tenure with an inspection visit to the Bida Mana Water Works, a facility that has remained dormant for nearly 15 years, depriving more than 600,000 residents of potable water.
During the visit, the N-HYPPADEC boss, who was reappointed last week, revealed that the project was already 70 per cent complete. He assured that the commission would intensify efforts to ensure the revival of the waterworks, adding that his new tenure would focus on innovative resource mobilization through partnerships with state governments, the National Assembly, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders rather than relying solely on federal allocations.
Mediaplusng.com reports that Yelwa highlighted progress achieved so far, including the installation of a 5MB transformer linked to a 33KV line. He noted that two smaller transformers connected to an 11KV line were awaiting integrity tests. He emphasized that powering the intake and treatment plant, alongside completing reticulation, remained critical to restoring efficient water services for Bida residents.
The Managing Director further explained that while the Niger State Government awarded the contract for reticulation, N-HYPPADEC was complementing efforts by providing power infrastructure and exploring additional interventions to restore regular water supply to the historic town.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Niger State Sewage and Water Corporation, Gimba Isa, commended the intervention, describing it as a timely response after years of neglect. He noted that the state government would be briefed on further needs, including treatment facilities and 20 additional pumping machines to optimize the project.
Similarly, the commission’s Head of Electrical Division, Ibrahim Haruna, disclosed that about ₦308 million had been spent on the project, with all 29 items listed for supply and installation already completed.
As part of his visit, Yelwa also paid homage to the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of Niger State Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, at his palace, where he briefed the monarch on achievements and challenges affecting completion.
In response, the Etsu Nupe lamented the prolonged lack of potable water in Bida but commended N-HYPPADEC’s intervention. He assured the commission of his full support and pledged to encourage community ownership of the facilities to guarantee sustainability
