The North East Development Commission NEDC established in 2017 through an act of the National Assembly, but came into being in 2018 was established as a special vehicle to provide succour to the displaced people of the northeast geopolitical zone, ravaged by incessant attacks from foreign detractors the like Boko Haram, ISWAP, kidnappings and banditry that had done quantum destructions to the lives and properties including the social and economic well being of the people.
Under the pioneer leadership of Alhaji Mohammed Alkali as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer CEO , North East Development Commission NEDC, the new agency set up not only rehabilitate the North East states of Nigeria indigenes stranded and dislodged as a result of war- like situations, but return the social and economic activities back to normalcy had worked assiduously towards achieving the desired results.
In line with the prevailing situations across the country, like it’s counterparts at the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, the NEDC was expected to draw a template that was capable of guaranteeing meaningful lives and engagements to the people of the states in the North East.
The states consisting of Borno , Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe state had turned the daily activities of the citizens into critical conditions, especially the security of lives and properties, as well as the wanton decapitation of the daily lives and legitimate activities of the people, with dire consequences on the physical and infrastructural development of the states.
Therefore, the inauguration of the new commission under the leadership of Mohammed Alkali in 2018 was timely that set the ball rolling in the government desire to return normalcy to the lives of the indigenes and inhabitants, as well as people living within the states.
Hitting the ground running, the Alkali led NEDC had set the ball rolling through resettlement of the victims of war ravaged states, with provision of temporary shelters for the IDPs that later graduated into the provision of permanent structures across the states which led to the construction of 500 Housing units in each state, and 1,400 units in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The health of the people of the Northeast was already under serious threat, hence the provision of hospitals and clinics cannot be overemphasized, through construction of both cottage and reference hospitals, provision of hospital equipments across the geopolitical zone to resolve the health challenges of the people.
Since normalcy was gradually returning to the North Eastern part , the desire of the people to engage in meaningful activities became imperative, hence the commission created an engagement outlets to empower the people economically with seeds to enable them engage in micro and macro economic activities.
Aside provision of basic social amenities to the IDPs, it also engaged in construction and reconstruction of schools, and other public structures that was touched by the war dissidents of Boko Haram and ISWAP across the states, so as to return the school aged children back to school as at when due.
Alkali in the last four years had embarked on wholistic provision of all social amenities to the war ravaged states that is gradually returning normalcy to lives of the citizenry, and the return to their various homes with a contained strategy from the security agencies.
With determination and concerted efforts by the leadership of Alhaji Mohammed Alkali as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer CEO of the North East Development Commission NEDC, no doubt will resolve the initial problems created by the activities of Boko Haram, ISWAP among many other activities against the peace, security and wellbeing of the North East geopolitical zones.
One good turn, they said deserves another, with the success recorded of Mohammed Alkali, no doubt will consolidate the achievements already recorded rather than using the new body as a spring board for any unforseen circumstances and decisions.
The need to learn from the current ordeal of the sister agency becomes necessary, so as to avoid the pitfalls of the present ordeal that was to serve as an intervention platform, but became an avenue for the siphoning of government scarce resources.
The transparent and administrative wizardry of Alhaji Mohammed Alkali was distinct and the need to continue to explore the wealth of experience going forward.
Yusuf , writes from Abuja, he can be reached via : [email protected].
