By Idris Khalid
The Coalition of Arewa Youths Progressive Forum (CAYPF) has lauded the achievements of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) recorded in 2021 for developing the Northeast region.
In a press statement to journalists on yesterday signed by the group chairman Alhaji Salihu Magaji and Secretary Abdullahi Hussain, said activities of the commission which are physically located across the Northeastern states are uncountable.
Statement said since the appointment of the Managing Director of NEDC, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali he has proven to solve the riddle by coordinating, harmonizing, and overseeing the success of many intervention and initiative programmes for the Northeastern states through his effective, top, and outstanding managerial skills.
The group described NEDC is one of the pillars and successes of the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, “The fair and just provision of 3,500 housing units, houses across the six North Eastern states of Adamawa, Borno Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states, ease the sufferings of the IDPS and entire people of the North Eastern states.”
“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 that have achieved all its recent successes in such a short period of time of one year is incredibly stupendous”.
The group added that NEDC has managed to make a lot of progress in bringing relief and peace to the region, “NEDC 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 boxes rocking the country, this include Insurgency , banditry and kidnappings that have caused so many undulation effects, and it would take the best of governments several years to correct.”
“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 area. Provisions for schooling were also made available. That wasn’t all, many beneficiaries would receive food and other relief items.
“The commission 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). It covers the whole 112 LGAs in the Northeast. The NEDC is also into skills acquisition, training and provision of starter packs to Information Communication Technology (ICT), trainees”.
They further said, “In the area of education the NEDC has built complete Primary School upstairs across the 112 Local Government Areas in the North East and its working day and night to constructs roads that defy past administrations some of these roads were designed by colonial masters, for example Alkaleri, Futuk road that link Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States, Kirfi Gombe Abba road that linked Bauchi and Gombe State to mention just a few.”
He said, NEDC has constructed many cattle markets, hospitals and make positive interventions in the tertiary institutions, empowering women and youths in order to divert attention from the attractions of conscription into Boko Haram.
The group further said NEDC has so far managed to surmount the many challenges it has been faced with by the enactment of effective rehabilitation and resettlement programmes as well as the construction and development of social and physical infrastructure.
