Managing Director/CEO of NEDC, Ambassador Goni Mohammed Alkali addressing members of the House committee during the assemment tour
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The House of Representatives Committee on North East Development Commission (NEDC) has carried out an oversight function in Maiduguri to assess projects executed and programmes implemented by the commission in the general transformation and development of the ravaged north east sub region following the over a decade insurgency.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Usman Zanna, led other members of the committee on the legislative assignment on Thursday in Maiduguri and its environs.
Hon. Zanna ssured that the committee members would impress on its colleagues at the lower chamber of the National Assembly to attract additional funds for the commission in order to adequately implement people oriented projects and programmes that would transform and develop the region which has been battered by crisis.
Fielding questions from journalists at the Alau Dam damaged water control channels, he added that due to the gravity of the work and extend of destruction couple with the importance attached to Alau Dam waterways down to Gadabul and Customs Area meandering through the Maiduguri city deserve much attention to curtail incidences of the upsurge flooding the city of causing havoc and displacement of residents.
“We are here to see and evaluate the activities of the commission. We have gone round thee projects and we have seen the kind of projects and levels of work. We have engineers among the members of the committee.
“We really commend the commission for doing a good job and we hope they will do more because of the environment we have here in the north east where crisis affected farming and businesses, schools and hospitals among others.
” We will do everything possible at our end as members if the committee to talk to our colleagues to attract more funds for the commission to carry out its responsibilities more effectively in transforming and developing the north.eadt region which has been facing over 15 years conflict . The committee has wide representation as you can see across the country.
“We also commend the management of the commission for boldly executing such gigantic projects especially, the roads projects which will go a long way in accelerating development and boost agricultural activities in Zabamari, Koshebe, Dusuman, Gongolon, Ngom, Bulabilin, Khaddamaru, Mafa and other places of Jere and Mafa LGAs including providing easy access roads for smooth movements of goods, farmers, fishers and food produce among others,” Zanna said.
The Chairman of the committee further promised that the committee will continue to support and encourage the commission achieve its mandate in the overall interest of the people of the north east region.
He further appreciated the efforts of the commission on construction of houses for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), which have facilitated their resettlement.
