North East Group commends NEDC proposed N31.5 trillion 10-Year Development Plan

From David Kuvie Bauchi

Chairman of the North East Elders and Youth Peoples Forum, Alhaji Salisu Magaji, has commended the leadership of  the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for initiating the N31.5 trillion North East Development Plan saying it will address the devastation caused by insurgency in the region.

The NEDC’s leadership had announced a 10-year North East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP)  aimed at facilitating a transformative growth of the region and lifting citizens  out of poverty.

Speaking at a press briefing in Bauchi on Monday, Magaji urged the the Federal Government to approve the Development Plan for immediate implementation by all relevant Stakeholders for the benefit of the communities in the region.

He argued that the North-East Development Plan, which would gulp the sum of $80 billion, (N31.05 trillion) showed the patriotism ,doggedness, commitment and accountability of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali.

Magaji said the announcement of this proposed huge fund clearly shows Goni Alkali’s mission and vision to remove the region from its predicament and present woes. 

He lamented that the North East region was the most backward and neglected in the country despite its historic position and status in the history of Nigeria.

“Today our region has suffered a lot of setbacks as a result of insurgency as well as recent climate change effects,” he lamented.

Magaji, who was in company with the Secretary of the Forum, Lawal Abdullahi, argued that full implementation of the master plan would no doubt bring the needed growth and development of the region in line with objective of NEDC.

He commended the foresight of Goni Alkali for coming up with NESDMP, saying any one that studies it will definitely see a wholistic roadmap for recovery, stabilization, expansion, and long-term socioeconomic development of the  North East.

He urged the Federal Government to approve the Development Plan for immediate implementation by all relevant Stakeholders for the benefit of the communities in the region.

The NEDC was established to rebuild the North-East region following the onslaught of Boko Haram insurgency which led to loss of several lives and destruction of property as well as the displacement of millions of people in the  region.

Magaji said in less than four years since its establishment, the NEDC under the leadership of Goni Alkali has made great strides towards achieving its mandate of managing funds for recovery, stabilization, and paving a path toward long-term social-economic development of the North-East region. 

He said activities carried out by Goni Alkali led  the Commission to fulfil the campaign promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari to the people of the North-East Geo-Political Zone during his electioneering campaign.

The Chairman observed that Goni Alkali’s exemplary leadership, transparency and prudence has led to successes  recorded by the NEDC.

He said the NEDC has turned out to be one of the important projects of the Buhari’s administration that touched people’s lives positively and gladden the hearts of the  people of various communities 

“All of us from the region and even beyond are most grateful to Mr. President for his insight and legacy and for appointing the right man, Goni Alkali, for the job,” Magaji stated.

On his part the Secretary of the Forum Lawal Abdullahi said Goni Alkali has succeeded in implementing the Humanitarian-Development Peace building because of  demand-driven and impactful projects that were changing the landscape of the region.

Abdullahi observed that the NEDC projects were distributed judiciously according to the needs of each state in the region saying they are physically seen in the six States in the region.

The Secretary of the Forum  believed that if the 11 pillars on the road map, which include peaceful society; leadership in agriculture; healthy citizens; educated populace; flourishing trade; productive entrepreneurs; purposeful infrastructure; industrialization; memorable experience; protected environment were implemented, it will connect region and definitely solve all the woes bedeviling it.