The Chairman of the Ibaji local government area traditional council, Chief John Egwuemi, has appealed to the federal government to make funds available to the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to enable it to carry out its mandate.
He made the plea when he received a delegation from the Ibaji Flood Plains Community Management Multipurpose Cooperative Society (IFPCMPCS) led by its Chairman, Dr Joy Ukoje, in Idah.
Chief Egwuemi said the Ibaji traditional council was ready to work with IFPCMPCS as it had lofty ideas that could make life easy for the people of Ibaji.
The traditional ruler, who said Ibaji was always the worst hit in Kogi State during the annual flood, also called on well-meaning individuals, organizations and relevant government agencies to help mitigate the flooding in the area, saying this terrible situation had placed Ibaji local government area in a disadvantaged position as the worst impacted area in terms of natural disaster and disruptions to their livelihoods.
He advised HYPPADEC to continue to be thorough and carry the communities along, especially in developing a strategy for addressing the yearly flooding that negatively impacts the Ibaji people.
He therefore thanked HYPPADEC for collaborating with IFPCMPCS for the initiative on the development of community shelters in Ibaji communities.
He assured of the support and commitment of the Ibaji traditional council and leaders and thanked the leaders of IFPMPCS for initiating the design and model of the community shelter.
Also, the IFPCMPCS delegation was at the palace of Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Ogwuche Akpa, in Idah to dialogue on the way forward for the success of the HYPPADEC intervention scheme in his domain.
Attah Igala, who is also the Chairman of the Kogi State traditional council of chiefs, appreciated the mandate of HYPPADEC, and prayed for the success of its activities, particularly in Igala land, stressing that special attention should be paid to the demands of the people of Ibaji, and for the development of the community shelters.
The royal father admonished communities to support the projects cited by HYPPADEC in their localities and called on public officials, community leaders and politicians not to divert or interfere with whatever HYPPADEC provides to the communities and vulnerable people in Ibaji.
The Attah Igala commended HYPPADEC and IFPCMPCS for their collaboration and commitment to developing community shelters in Ibaji and reaffirmed his relentless efforts in giving useful advice on the way forward for the success of the scheme in his domain.
He promised to support IFPCMPCS on the citing and realisation of the community shelters in the Ibaji area and thanked the group for coming.
The chairman of the executive committee of IFPCMPCS, Dr. Joy Ukoje and her delegation had earlier briefed the royal fathers of the activities of the group; which included cash assistance provided to over 500 women farmers in all the wards in Ibaji and environs.
She explained that the community shelter was designed in a way for the people of the area to live in their ancestral homes during the flood.
Chairman Kogi East Neighborhood Watch, Dr Omakoji Oyiguh, further stated that they were at the palaces to brief the royal fathers on how far they had gone and how to address the flood issues in Ibaji area.
Dr Oyiguh noted that their findings had revealed that Communities in Ibaji Local Government Area for decades have suffered untold hardships ranging from lack of access roads to the inability to carry out development in the area.
He said the Ibaji Flood Plains Community Management Multipurpose Cooperative Society was established to help the people of the area; as such all hands must be on deck to support the IFPCMPCS to assist the people.
The royal fathers appreciated the leadership of HYPPADEC for their promise to support the IFPCMPCS in actualising its mandate for the people of Ibaji.
Also present with the IFPCMPCS team were Dr Omakoji Oyiguh, Mr James Udalor and Mr Samuel.
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