29/10/2025
FARMER GOVERNOR UMARU BAGO RESTATES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT N-HYPPADEC AS THE COMMISSION DISTRIBUTES HAND-HELD POWER TILLERS, LIFE JACKETS, AND OTHER RELIEF MATERIALS ACROSS MEMBER STATES.
The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has distributed 850 units of 13-horsepower hand-driven power tillers, relief materials, and life jackets across the states covered by the Commission.
Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State flagged off the distribution at the N-HYPPADEC Headquarters in Minna.
He commended the Commission, especially its Managing Director, for his unwavering commitment to ensuring the development of the N-HYPPADEC states, saying his efforts led to his reappointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for another tenure.
The farmer governor said the distribution of the items is an indication of the willingness of the N-HYPPADEC to continue to support benefiting communities to also contribute to food security despite the flood disasters ravaging communities.
He encouraged farmers to focus on dry season farming by taking advantage of the lower Niger Basin and also engage in pasture production in line with the president's initiatives on livestock and agriculture in Nigeria.
The farmer governor, who reaffirmed his administration's readiness to continue to support N-HYPPADEC to ensure success, promised to provide 160 water pumps and said that the state government will partner with the commission to harvest to boost agricultural activities.
He, however, enjoined the N-HYPPADEC to consider reticulation of the New Bussa and Bida towns in its 2026 budget and also urged for an intervention in the Kuta waterworks
Speaking on the reoccurring boat mishaps in Niger State, the farmer governor said, "Lives have been lost, our people must be re-educated, and we are discussing with the Etsu Nupe and the M.D on how we can enforce the use of life jackets."
The Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, disclosed that out of the 850 units of 13-horsepower hand-driven power tillers to all the N-HYPPADEC states, Niger State has 165 units.
He said other items are 4,000 life jackets, 500 bags of NPK fertilizers, 50 cartons of pesticides, and 100 cartons of herbicides for affected flood communities in Mokwa and other local government areas of the state in addition to the recently awarded contract for supplies of planters and sprayers for distribution to affected communities in N-HYPPADEC member states.
Alh. Sadiq Yelwa emphasised that the distribution of the hand-driven power tillers and other items is yet another practical step in their continuing effort to reduce vulnerability, improve livelihoods, and promote inclusive development.
He said the efforts aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises empowerment, agricultural productivity, and community resilience, and also resonate deeply with the Niger State Government’s strong commitment to agricultural advancement and water transport safety.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Matthew Ahmed; Estu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, commended the activities and interventions of the N-HYPPADEC to ensure safety of lives and to increase food productivity and security in the state, adding that the programme is in line with the vision of the farmer governor, as the state had already provided tractors providing services for the smallholder farmers across the state.
Bologi Ibrahim
Chief Press Secretary
to the Governor of Niger State
29/10/2025.
