Flood: Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station sensitise communities involve in water-based activities
As part of efforts to reduce the devastating impact of flood on lives and property, the management of North South Power Company Limited (NSPCL) has sensitised communities involved in water-based activities around the Shiroro Hydro-Electric Power Plant on flood.
The Vice-Chairman of NSPCL, Engineer Olubunmi Peters, said at the annual stakeholder’s flood sensitisation and awareness forum held in Minna that the workshop was to educate and raise awareness among communities individuals, and riparian dwellers engaged in water-based activities upstream and downstream of the dam on flood related issues.
Engineer Peter Olubunmi, who was represented at the workshop by Hon. Abdullahi Hassan, a consultant on Corporate Social Responsibility to NSPCL, added that the forum was to sensitise and educate communities upstream and downstream of the plant on the environmental hazard caused by flooding and the possible ways to reduce the devastating damages to lives and properties.
“To curtail the reoccurrence of flood, stakeholders needs to institute appropriate measures by developing new strategies and most effective remedies to flooding,” he said.
He explained that there is need for government to start aggressive desilting of gutters and flood channels across the state as well as intensify climate information services especially to farmers.
The Vice-chairman assured that NSPCL will continue to prioritise by contributing to the welfare and development of the company’s host communities and urged the communities to always embrace dialogue in settling disputes.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chief Operating Officer, NSPCL, Engineer Ugochukwu Chioke, said the workshop was aimed to create awareness for communities upstream and downstream of the plant on flood related issues.
He added that the workshop was to promote a culture of flood resilience and preparedness among the target audience by equipping them with knowledge and rights skills to respond effectively to flood.
The Chairman of Munya Local Government Area, Alhaji Aminu Kuchi, said four wards in the council area which includes;of Kuchi, Guni, Sarkin-pawa and Dangunu wards usually experienced flood every rainy season year.
He said the sensitisation workshop will help communities that always experience flood to stay alert and avoid engaging in water-based activities that wl endanger their lives at the peak of the rains.
Similarly, the District Head of Guni, in Munya Local Government Area, Alhaji Usman Umar, said the sensitisation worky is timely as some communities in the area have started experiencing flood with corps such as rice, maize and yams destroyed.
