The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to increase budgetary allocations to N-HYPPADEC, enabling the commission to continue and broaden its interventions to enhance the lives of communities and support the nation’s development.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone “C” (NORTH CENTRAL) Coordinator, Comrade Hussaini Jamilu Ebbo, during a press briefing at the IBB Pen House in Minna, said advocating for more funds will also enable it to execute more developmental projects.

He assured NANS of ongoing support and dedication to collaborating with the current administration to build a better Nigeria, while praising President Tinubu for reappointing the N-HYPPADEC Managing Director, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, as a sign of confidence in Alhaji Sadiq’s leadership.

He said that after four days of NANS on-the-spot assessment of N-HYPPADEC’s various projects, significant progress has been made in transforming the lives of communities in the hydroelectric power-producing areas. From constructing classrooms and healthcare facilities to providing solar-powered boreholes and streetlights, HYPPADEC’s interventions have positively impacted the lives of Nigerians.

He said, “Other projects completed by our team during visits to eight LGAs include the construction of 120 two-bedroom houses at New Muregi, 80 similar projects at Ketso, and 40 blocks of two-bedroom housing units at Zazzaga resettlement communities in Niger State. Additionally, there are 140 hand-pump boreholes and 128 solar-powered boreholes with 24-hour supply.

“Donations of life jackets to the tune of 7,500 to the riverine areas across the HYPPADEC member states and affected communities, provisions of 852 solar street lights served as security within communities, especially in rural areas; 10,000 thousand seedlings of plantation (economic trees), rehabilitation and expansion of New Bussa water scheme which engulfed over two billion naira, and Bida Water works at over a billion naira among others” he added.

Comrade Jamilu Ebbo emphasized that they were impressed considering the impacts of the commission on Nigerian students ranging from educational structures, 52 units of blocks of classrooms equipped with plastic chairs and tables, writing materials and bags for thousands of pupils, over 10,000 in its data based for students of WAEC external, 15,000 students enrolled in scholarship scheme, and various skills acquisition programs for youths and women to be self reliant.

NANS stressed that to ensure accountability and transparency, its leadership will continue to monitor resource expenditure by visiting communities to follow up on projects across all states within the N-HYPPADEC catchment areas, ensuring that every kobo budgeted is fully utilised for the benefit of the people.

Comrade Ebbo noted that the president’s focus on education, which has led to numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of education in our country, stating that the N1.6 trillion allocation to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is a significant step in the right direction.