By Mardiyyah Abubakar
The North-East Development Commission has earmarked about ₦100 billion to build a 50-megawatt power grid for communities across the North-East.
The project will serve some of the 102 local government areas in the region’s six states.
The NEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Alkali, disclosed this while briefing media executives and bureau chiefs in Abuja.
Alkali spoke alongside the Chairman of the commission, Major General Paul Tarfa (retd.).
He said the NEDC had continued to address the region’s major development challenges following years of destruction caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.
According to him, the commission wants to restore normal life and prevent terrorism and other criminal activities from defining the future of the North-East.
He said the region must return to its traditional strengths in commerce, agriculture, industry and education.
Alkali explained that the commission had based its programmes on a regional master plan developed to guide reconstruction and long-term growth.
The master plan focuses on four key areas: stabilisation and recovery, renewal, expansion and sustainable growth.l
He said the commission had invested billions of naira in education, agriculture and healthcare projects across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.
The NEDC also plans to spend more than ₦30 billion on boreholes across the region.
The project aims to provide water facilities in the 1,024 wards across the six North-East states.
Alkali said the commission had improved access to modern medical equipment in the region.
He noted that hospitals in the North-East previously lacked MRI machines and other critical diagnostic equipment.
The region now has eight MRI machines and additional scanning equipment provided through NEDC interventions.
The NEDC boss also said the commission recently received five International Organisation for Standardisation certifications.
The certifications cover quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety, anti-bribery systems and sustainable communities.
Alkali said the certifications showed that the commission had adopted internationally recognised standards for governance and project delivery.
He added that the NEDC had completed more than 300 kilometres of roads and built over 50 bridges across the region.
The projects have reconnected communities, reduced transport costs and improved access to markets, schools and healthcare facilities.
Through its Light Up the North-East Project, the commission has installed more than 100,000 solar-powered streetlights.
Alkali said the streetlights had improved security and extended commercial activities in many communities.
The commission has also completed 49 projects in tertiary institutions and built 18 mega schools.
It has delivered more than 100 water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to improve access to education and basic services.
In Adamawa State, the NEDC constructed the 32-kilometre Dabna Road and completed several roads linking educational institutions and communities.
The commission also worked on the Garkida Cross–Kukurtu Road and rehabilitated roads in Fufore.
Major projects, including the Numan, Bole, Madagali and Michika bridges, have improved connectivity and supported agricultural transportation.
The Mubi–Maiha–Sarao bridge projects have also strengthened cross-border trade.
In Bauchi State, the commission completed the 32-kilometre Kirfi–Gombe Abba Road.
It also delivered the Tashan Turmi, Bara and Kalajanga bridges.
Other projects include the Ningi–Yadagungume–Fuskar Mata Road, the Soro–Ganjuwa Bridge and several erosion-control and drainage projects.
Alkali said the projects would improve regional connectivity, support economic activities and strengthen communities against climate-related challenges.
