The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has has met with communities hosting facilities of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Corporation Ltd (NESCO) in Jos.
The interface would enable the commission to get first-hand information from the people on their plights owing to the presence of these facilities in their domain.
The meeting that held on Sunday in Barkin Ladi local Government Area of the state, was attended by district and village heads and community leaders from the concerned communities.
NESCO is a private company that built a hydro -electric system at Kurra falls in 1929, and is supplying electricity to some parts of Plateau.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Saleh Kanam, the Commissioner representing Plateau in HYPPADEC, said the meeting was aimed at ascertaining the challenges being faced by the host communities.
He said this is to get first-hand information on the nature of ecological problems posed to them by the presence of these facilities in their communities, stating that the interface would be a continuous exercise, adding that the commission would also visit the communities to see things for itself.
Such a move, he said, would help the commission in planning its development and welfare programmes for the communities
This meeting the commissioner said is very critical because it is an interface with the immediate communities residing around the asset, particularly the dam site managed by NESCO
.On her part, Mrs Anastasia Dongjur, Permanent Secretary, Plateau State Ministry of Environment, commended HYPPADEC for the initiative and described it as “timely”
Dongjur said the deliberations at the meeting would enable communities to state their challenges, with a view to finding ways of addressing them.
“This meeting seeks to address critical issues affecting the environment, causing climate change, degradation and other ecological problems that our people are facing,”she said
