By IBRAHIM BELLO

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has identified life jackets as key to cutting boat accident fatalities by 60 per cent across riverine communities.

The Managing Director of the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, disclosed this on Saturday during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Muhammad Samaila-Mera, as part of the commission’s flood sensitisation campaign in the state.

“From our assessment, the use of life jackets has reduced the number of lives lost in boat accidents by about 60 per cent.

“A life jacket can keep a victim afloat for up to six hours, providing sufficient time for rescue teams to arrive,” he said.

Sadiq-Yelwa said the commission distributed about 20,000 life jackets across its mandate areas in 2025 and planned to distribute more than 50,000 additional jackets before the end of 2026.

The managing director said the commission had recorded a significant reduction in fatalities from boat accidents following the distribution of life jackets in riverine communities.

He urged residents of riverine communities in Kebbi to adopt proactive measures to minimise the impact of flooding.

Sadiq-Yelwa said the visit formed part of N-HYPPADEC’s follow-up enlightenment programme aimed at encouraging communities to take ownership of basic flood prevention measures instead of depending entirely on government intervention.

According to him, communities can undertake simple preventive measures such as desilting drainage channels to reduce the risk of flooding.

“Our visit is to sensitise communities on the need to be proactive in preventing floods.

“They should not wait for the government to do everything for them because there are certain things they can do on their own, such as desilting drains and waterways,” he said.

He, however, assured that the commission would intervene in communities where the scale of the challenge was beyond the capacity of residents.

Sadiq-Yelwa disclosed that the commission would assist a community in Argungu that required extensive desilting to avert flooding during the rainy season.

He also expressed optimism that sustained sensitisation and preventive interventions would reduce the recurring loss of lives and destruction of property associated with annual flooding.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as part of the visit, Sadiq-Yelwa presented 100 life jackets to the Emir of Argungu for onward distribution to boat and canoe operators.

The MD described the donation as part of a larger water safety initiative across N-HYPPADEC beneficiary states.

He emphasised that the commission’s priority was prevention rather than responding to tragedies after they occur.

Sadiq-Yelwa also called on traditional rulers to intensify awareness among boat operators on safety regulations, including avoiding night travel on waterways and refraining from operating boats under the influence of drugs.

He said compliance with such safety measures would drastically reduce boat mishaps.

Sadiq-Yelwa further announced that the commission would evacuate about 6,000 linear metres of drainage channels from Bachaka to the Old Mosque near the Kanta Museum in Argungu to improve water flow and reduce flooding.

He said the commission was also carrying out public sensitisation on the dangers of erecting buildings on waterways and drainage channels, as well as educating residents on actions to take before, during and after flood incidents.

According to him, N-HYPPADEC also plans to donate a modern boat to the Argungu Emirate to improve access to riverine communities.

He added that the commission would survey alternative access routes to communities currently dependent on river transport and also construct emergency shelters for persons displaced by floods.

Sadiq-Yelwa reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to working closely with traditional institutions, describing their support as critical to the success of its intervention programmes.

Responding, the Emir of Argungu commended N-HYPPADEC for its sustained interventions aimed at reducing the impact of flooding in affected communities.

The traditional ruler prayed for greater success for the commission in spite of prevailing funding challenges.

He urged hydroelectric power companies benefiting from the Kainji Dam to fulfil their statutory financial obligations to the commission to enable it execute more developmental projects in host communities.

Samaila-Mera also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the prompt release of statutory allocations to N-HYPPADEC before Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements.

“The commission’s interventions are vital to the safety and development of hydroelectric power-producing communities,” the emir noted. (NAN)

•The DG of N-HYPPADEC, Alh. Abubakar Yelwa hands over the life jackets to the Chief of Hausa community, Sheik Sanni Imam

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