Northern Group Thumbs-Up NEDC Boss, Alkali, Over Massive Infrastructural Leap in the Region

Daily Rendezvous

The Northeast Youth and Elders People Forum has thrown its weight behind the leadership of the North East Development Commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali, saying under his leadership, the NEDC, has already built over 1000 housing units in Borno state, and that it has already commissioned the building of another 1500 more housing units with 500 each to be cited in Bauchi, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The group maintains that it has completed work on a burn Center at FMC Yola and also on a fully Equipped Molecular laboratory, at the Specialist Hospital in Yola, Adamawa state.

This is contained in a press statement issued by the National President of the Northeast Youth and Elders People Forum, Salihu Magaji, on Wednesday in Yola, Adamawa state.

The Forum adds that, it has embarked on massive infrastructural development in the region, disbursed food and non food items, to cushion the debilitating impact of insurgency on residents of the region.

 According to Salisu Magaji, "We in the North East subregion are satisfied and grateful for the efforts of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) under the leadership of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali.

"His works are manifest for anyone to see, touch or feel.

"NEDC has awarded contract for the construction of 2500 units of housing, as part of its effort in bringing succor to the people of North  East .

"1000 houses has already been completed in Borno State, while the construction of 500 set of houses has been awarded respectively in Yobe and Bauchi and the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of another 500 Mass Housing Units in Adamawa State has been awarded."

The press statement further states that, "In addition, there will be flagging off of the distribution of Food and Non-food items to address the rapidly deteriorating food insecurity situation in the North East Region including Adamawa State.

"While in Adamawa state, handing over of the Burn Centre at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola which will cater for the high incidences of burn injuries and other associated incidences in the State. There will also be a commissioning of a fully equipped Molecular Laboratory at the State Specialist Hospital, Yola."

The statement adds that under the inspired leadership of Mohammed Goni Alkali, the commission has conducted an "Inspection tour of the ongoing reconstruction work at the three destroyed bridges on the Mubi to Madagali Highway."

It adds that NEDC has also, "Visited some State Government owned Technology Skills Acquisition Centres currently slated for resuscitation and operationalization by the Commission besides the inspections to some completed and ongoing projects by the Commission in the State."

The Forum maintains that, "Alkali started the construction of 500 houses in other states in the North East beginning with Yobe where he performewd the ground breaking ceremony for 250 houses in Damaturu, 50 houses in Buni Yadi, another set of 50 at Gaidam, 50 houses in Potiskum, some 50 more houses in Gashua and 50 more houses in Nguru.

"And due to rapid drop in school enrollment and surging numbers of out of school children as a result of the 12 years of the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, NEDC has committed itself to building about 18 Mega schools in all the housing units, 3 in each senatorial zone of the region, aimed at addressing the challenge of out-of-school-children in the region."

The establishment of these mega schools will be accompanied with construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools at both primary and secondary school levels destroyed by the activities of Boko Haram in the entire north east region.

 According to the group, it has confidence in Goni Alkali, to continue to pilot the affairs of NEDC and restore both infrastructure and human dignity in the region.