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By Akanji Olowolodu, Bauchi
President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to before he leaves on May 29, 2023, extend the tenure of the Managing Director /CEO of North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali.
The call was made by North East Youths Discussion Cycle during a press conference held on Thursday in Bauchi addressed by Prince Mohammed Sani Hassan, Chairman of the group.
According to him, “It has become imperative to address you and the general public about an issue that becomes an important to the progressive survival of the North East Region of Nigeria, and the country at large.”
Sani Mohammed stated that, “As we are all aware, that, the establishment of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in October 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari, was solidly to lead the reconstruction of the North Eastern region of Nigeria among other missions, you will believe with me that the said objective has been achieved in so many ways.”
He stressed that,”This is not unconnected to the giant strides of the Commission to ensure transparency and accountability of resources allocated to it for the benefit of the entire people of the region, under the able leadership of Mohammed G. Alkali.”
“Muhammad G. Alkali is a true leader whose ambition has been to deliver the mandate that is in line with the vision and mission of the North East Development Commission NEDC,” he said.
He explained that under his leadership, the NEDC has strategically been assessing, reviewing, and implementing key strategic programme that would catalyze the poverty matrix in the North-East Region.
He outlined some of the activities to include the development of the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP), an all-inclusive roadmap for the Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, Reactivation, Replacement, Reconstruction, Resettlement, Renewal, Regeneration, Redevelopment and Sustainable Growth of the North-East Zone.
The masterplan focuses on both alleviating poverty and promoting sustainable growth and development using transformative projects and programmes.
Other notable humanitarian and development projects he has spearhead included the ongoing construction of 3500 mass housing units for the resettlement of the IDPs with 1000 completed, capacity building for over 4000 youth in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve access to ICT in the North-East through establishment of ICT Resource Centres targeted at supporting ICT penetration with the hope to resuscitate the region economically in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
Sani Mohammed added that under his leadership, the NEDC has intervened in the areas of agriculture, WASH, Health, key infrastructure such as bridges, schools etc.
Goni Alkali has also undertaken various national and corporate assignments alongside demanding substantive roles. He served as the Chairman, Technical Committee of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s N10.00 billion Rice Processing Intervention Fund (2008/2009).
Played an active role in the packaging of the N100.00 billion Cotton, Textiles and Garment (CTG) Development Scheme proposal to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2009; he was member of the Governing Council of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency（SMEDAN) of Nigeria.
The MD has indeed done very well to the development of the region, he is icon of diligent service and transformation.
He said that, “Remember, that the North East Development Commission NEDC have over the years, since its inception touches the lives of many people particularly those that were affected by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, in so many positive ways.”
According to him,”This can be clearly seen in such areas where the insurgents have rendered many people homeless. This NEDC embarked on massive construction of housing units, Schools to ease their difficulties to the less privilege.”
“You will believe with me that NEDC has had so many other series of interventions which ranges from provision of emergency relief materials to people in the areas that were recently affected by flooding. In addition to that, roads worth billions of naira were constructed in all the states of the North East geo-political region to ease transportation difficulties,” he said.
On the educational sector, the Commission has also released billions of naira for the construction of schools of international standard, and renovating those that were in a dilapidated state. Support was also provided for the teachers and students in all the government owned schools to ensure effective and efficient teaching and learning.
The North East Development Commission has however done so much in the area of youths and women empowerment, in which many are provided with palliative support for them to be able to become self reliant.
This, is not to talk of other areas where the commission under the stewardship of Muhammad G. Alkali, has penetrated with its intervention that touched the lives of many people.
“To this therefore, we the North East Youths Discussion Cycle, are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to, based on track records and achievements of the MD/CEO, please extend his tenure for another four years on behalf of the North East Youths,”, he added.
The North East Youths Discussion Cycle will organize a program in Borno state on 2nd May, 2023, to appreciate the MD /CEO of the Commission, present an award of excellence to him and also to pass a vote of confidence on him.
