Nigerian Students Lobby Tinubu for Increased N-HYPPADEC Funding to Sustain Community Development
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to significantly boost budgetary allocations to the Niger Delta Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC). The student body argues that enhanced funding is crucial for the commission to expand its transformative projects and deepen its impact on communities in hydroelectric power-producing regions.
Call for Action Following On-the-Ground Assessment
During a press briefing at the IBB Pen House in Minna, Comrade Hussaini Jamilu Ebbo, NANS Zone ‘C’ (North Central) Coordinator, detailed the findings from a four-day assessment tour of N-HYPPADEC projects. He reported significant progress in community development, crediting the commission’s work for substantially improving living conditions.
“From constructing classrooms and healthcare facilities to providing solar-powered boreholes and streetlights, HYPPADEC’s interventions have positively impacted the lives of Nigerians,” Ebbo stated, emphasizing the tangible benefits observed.
A Track Record of Tangible Results
The student delegation documented a wide array of completed projects across eight Local Government Areas. These include the construction of 240 two-bedroom houses across resettlement communities in New Muregi, Ketso, and Zazzaga in Niger State. The commission’s efforts in water provision are equally impressive, with 140 hand-pump boreholes and 128 solar-powered boreholes ensuring a 24-hour water supply.
Security and economic initiatives were also highlighted. The donation of 7,500 life jackets to riverine communities, the installation of 852 solar street lights to enhance safety in rural areas, and the distribution of 10,000 economic tree seedlings for plantation development demonstrate the commission’s multi-faceted approach to regional development.
Major infrastructure projects, such as the rehabilitation and expansion of the New Bussa water scheme—a project exceeding two billion naira—and the Bida Water works, valued at over a billion naira, underscore the scale of N-HYPPADEC’s commitments.
Direct Impact on Education and Student Welfare
Comrade Ebbo was particularly vocal about the commission’s direct contributions to the educational sector. NANS reported the construction of 52 blocks of classrooms, fully equipped with plastic chairs, tables, and writing materials for thousands of pupils.
The commission’s scholarship scheme has enrolled 15,000 students, while over 10,000 students have been supported for WAEC external examinations. Furthermore, various skills acquisition programs are empowering youths and women, fostering self-reliance and economic independence.
A Commitment to Accountability and Continued Partnership
Praising President Tinubu for reappointing Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa as Managing Director—a move seen as a vote of confidence in his leadership—NANS assured the administration of its ongoing support. The student body pledged to work collaboratively to build a better Nigeria.
To ensure transparency, NANS leadership committed to continuously monitoring the expenditure of resources. “We will continue to visit communities to follow up on projects… ensuring that every kobo budgeted is fully utilised for the benefit of the people,” Ebbo affirmed.
The student coordinator also commended the president’s broader focus on education, specifically highlighting the N1.6 trillion allocation to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) as a significant step in the right direction for national development.
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