Hydroelectric Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), on Wednesday, flagged off the construction of 570 metre drainage, dykes, erosion control works worth N212 million at the Patigi General Hospital in the Patigi local government area of Kwara state.

Speaking at the event, the managing director of the commission, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, said that the commission has a special area of concern, tackling ecological problems, especially, the prevention and control of floods and other environmental hazards.

Yelwa, who said that the Patigi projects are of strategic importance to the commission, added that lack of drainages and dykes has multiple inherent negative effects.

“It results not only to flooding (which in turn could lead to loss of lives and properties and spread of diseases), but it also reverses government’s efforts especially in terms of infrastructural development.

“Among other things, for example, it causes deterioration of roads and other critical infrastructure like the General Hospitals, Patigi. The importance of this project can, therefore, not be overemphasized.

“This is more so because the environmental hazards about to be tackled possess threats and causes distress not only to the inhabitants of the residential areas around the General hospital, but also to the multiple patients from the neighbouring communities in Kwara as well as Niger and Kogi States.

“It should, however, be stated that drainages/dykes hardly endure without proper maintenance. One of the major challenges that governments face in terms of infrastructural development is in the tendency of people to reverse the efforts, either through lack of maintenance or even through outright abuse and destruction.

“It is common in Nigeria to see people dumping refuse in drainages. This is highly uncalled for. I, therefore, charge all members of this community to contribute their respective quotas towards ensuring good maintenance of the drainage system.”

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of the area, the Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, urged the commission to help intervene in the poor road infrastructure traversing the community.

He said that the area also lacks electricity supply, adding that not every member of the community could afford electric supply through solar power project.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi, appreciated HYPPADEC for keying in to government’s efforts in reclaiming environment from imminent land degradation.

The governor, who suggested interventions such as tree planting campaign – for afforestation, said that it would break heavy wind and reduce heavy flows of water during precipitations that wash away the soils and leading to gully erosions.