By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The institution of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has been described as one of the Pillars and successes of the present APC led Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari considering its laudable achievements which is a real proof that the country is being led in the right direction.
The assertion was made by Alhaji Salihu Magaji, National President of Arewa Youths For Peace and Security (AYPS) in a statement he made available to Journalists in Bauchi on Thursday.
He stated that the provision of 3500 housing units across the Six North Eastern States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States, have eased the sufferings of the IDPs and entire people of the subregion.
He added that 1000 housing units were constructed in Borno State which is more devastated by act of insurgency while the remaining five states got 500 housing units each which are being constructed.
He also stated that the way food items were distributed to the people of the six States in the subregion is highly commendable stressing that, “the NEDC under the leadership of its Chairman, Alhaji Goni Mohammed Alkali continues to carry on the mandate assigned to it by the Federal Government.
According to him,”When one considered the decay in infrastructures across the country and the bureaucracies that hinder the smooth operations of many government agencies and compare it with successes recorded by NEDC in such a short period of time of one year, it is incredibly stupendous”.
Salisu Magaji added that NEDC under Goni Alkali is a leading horse in different rescue missions and initiatives of the Federal Government when it comes to changing the narratives of the people of North-East who have suffered a lot from various challenges rocking the country, that included terrorism, banditry and kidnappings that have caused so many ripple effects, and it would take the best of governments several years to correct.
He stated that the NEDC has managed to make a lot of progress in bringing relief and peace to the region stating that in addition to the housing units, other essential amenities such as solar-powered street lights and boreholes, a police-station and a motor-park were provided in the areas.
The Commission according to him also empowered many farmers by providing them with agricultural machinery and equipments, seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals and extension services, logistics vehicles annually under a programme tagged; Integrated Agriculture Programme (IAP) covering the whole 112 LGAs in the North East .
The NEDC is also into skills acquisition, training and provision of starter packs to Information Communication Technology (ICT), trainees as the Commission devoted part of its time in giving entrepreneurship and vocational skills a boost in each of the 1,028 political wards of the North-East subregion,.
The statement also contained that in the area of education, the NEDC has built complete blocks of Six classes in Primary School across the 112 Local Government Areas in the North East and it is working day and night to construct roads that defy past administrations some of which were designed by colonial masters, for example the Alkaleri – Futuk road that links Bauchi , Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States; Kirfi – Gombe Abba road that links Bauchi and Gombe State.
The NEDC also constructed many cattle markets , Hospitals and made positive interventions in the tertiary institutions in the region just as it has empowered women and youths in order to divert attention from the attractions of conscription into Boko Haram.
