Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has called on the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to expand the scope of its interventions in the North-East region to cover more road projects regardless of their status.
The Vice President stated this on Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, at the official flag-off ceremony for the distribution of palliatives in the northeast and the groundbreaking for the Jere Bowl road project.
The event also coincided with the 8th meeting of North East Governors’ Forum.
The Vice President said; “I want to urge the NEDC board to expand the scope of its intervention to cover more road projects across the northeast region, including the Gombe-Bauchi, Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu and Gujiba-Biu roads, among many others.
“Though these roads are regarded as Trunk A roads, they will eventually be used by Nigerians, particularly the people of the Northeast.”
Commendation
He commended the NEDC board for its prudent management of resources and applauded the support of political leaders, including legislators from the region for standing firm with the Commission.
While tracing the history of crisis in the zone, VP Shettima decried the impact of Bokoboko haram insurgency on the North-East, noting that it has “inflicted damages in the zone to the tune of nine billion dollars. Borno alone has damages worth 6.8 billion dollars.”
“There are similar destructions across Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba. If Northeast of Nigeria was to be treated as a nation, we are poorer than Chad, Afghanistan, and Niger,” the VP said.
He commended the efforts of Governors across the region for uniting the people despite their socio-political differences.
VP Shettima said; “The Northeast is a kaleidoscope of colours made up of different people from different socio-political backgrounds. But, I want to commend our governors for coalescing these units into a single force irrespective of the differences in political and other backgrounds.”
Groundbreaking
The Vice President had performed the official groundbreaking for the construction of the 22.5km Jere Bowl road network project, covering Jere and Mafa LGAs in Borno State, undertaken by the NEDC.
On the distribution of palliatives worth N15 billion to beneficiaries in 110 LGAs and 18 Senatorial districts across the Northeast region, VP Shettima reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Government to the welfare of the people.
Items to be distributed to beneficiaries across the zone include mats, a variety of clothing materials for women and children, blankets, rice, and vegetable oil, among others.
The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum called on the NEDC to be more determined in the discharge of its responsibilities.
Governor Zulum urged the commission to also focus more attention on supporting agriculture, especially irrigation farming in the Northeast.
Illegal Miners
He said as part of efforts to improve the fortunes of the region, the North-East Governors’ Forum would collectively checkmate the activities of illegal miners as well as engage actively with the Government at the center, with the view to exploiting mineral resources in the region for the benefit of the people.
He also commended security agencies for the progress made in the ongoing fight against insurgency and urged them to intensify efforts to eliminate the remnants of fighters hiding in enclaves in parts of the region.
On his part, the NEDC Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Alkali welcomed the Vice President, Governors, and other dignitaries to the event.
Alkali said that the first phase of construction of the Jere Bowl road network was among other infrastructure projects undertaken by the Commission across the region.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
