The Nigerian Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) is calling on the Federal Government to dredge Rivers Benue and Niger without further delay.
The commission has raised the alarm over the ecological menace caused by the operations of dams and other hydroelectric power activities in the power-producing areas of the country.
“We realised that for a very long time the River Niger and River Benue have not been dredged. So we advise the government, especially at the federal level, to dredge the River Niger and River Benue and by doing so some of these problems will be reduced,” HYPPADEC said.
According to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HYPPADEC, Abubakar Sadiq, there is a need to address the ecological problems that arise from the overloading of the dams in the two states and other hydro-electricity producing areas, in or order to improve the livelihood of the people.
The main goal of HYPPADEC is to improve access to social services, enhance sustainable agricultural productivity, accelerate economic growth, increase food security and reduce rural poverty and by implication address social vices in the society.