The North East Development Commission NEDC has flagged off the construction of no fewer than five hundred housing units in Taraba state.
The Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Alhaji Mohammed G.Alkali who performed the foundation laying ceremony in Jalingo alongside with the state governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, as well as the chairman of the governing board of the Commission, Major General (Rtd) Paul C. Tarfa, said the action has become necessary following the activities of insurgents in the region which has displaced thousands of people.
He said while 150 of the housing units will be built in Jalingo the state capital, the remaining of 350 will be spread across other cities in the State.
“The Commission have resolved to make available to the houses certain social-economic facilities that will make the occupants comfortable, the housing units when eventually completed will include reticulated water supply, lightening and commercial spaces amongst others”.
“We are disturbed by the activities of insurgents, the situation has led to massive influx of people into the urban areas with most of them taking shelter at “any available public spaces, homes, abandoned and uncompleted buildings and some Internally Displaced persons (IDP) camps across the States, the structures, we believe the housing units would go a long way in heralding succor to the displaced persons”, he stressed.
Alhaji Alkali also noted that the mandate of the Commission was established to address developmental challenges in the region and to restore means of livelihood of the people following the over 12 years of insurgency in the region.
Elated by the Commission’s hands of friendship, the State Governor Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, reiterated his administration’s determination to provide conducive environment for the Commission to achieve the desired aims in the State.
He thank the commission for being prompt in bringing succour to the people of the region who have been affected by the activities of the insurgence and natural disasters.
The Commission also distributed food and non-food items, farming machanised equipment, Tractors worth 300 million Naira to boast agriculture activities in the state.
Dominica Nwabufo
