Visiting House Committee On Northeast Development Commission Overwhelmed By The Pioneer MD

By DESERT HERALD

It was a fiesta of project display as the Northeast Development Commission receives House of Representatives committee on oversight function to the bereaved northeast state of Borno.

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) is the focal organization charged with the responsibility to assess, coordinate, harmonies and report on all intervention programs, and initiatives by the Federal Government or any of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), States; and other Development Partners and for the implementation of all programs and initiatives for the North East states; Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe, respectively.

The NEDC’s mission is to lead in the reconstruction and development of Nigeria’s northeast, a region devastated by over a decade long insurgency. With the creation of the NEDC, it has consolidated and replace other initiatives such as the Victims Support Fund (VSF), Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE), and Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI).

Wed 16/9/20
As early as 7:30 a.m the Commission’s headquarters along circular road become agog with activities to welcome the visiting members of the National Assembly whose presence is sacrosanct to the whole event.

The pioneer MD of the commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali was readily at hand and leaves no stone unturned to ensure the success of the event. The motorcade left the commission’s headquarters to the airport at 10am and the commercial plane conveying the August visitors touched down at exactly 10:30am

The Chairman of the House Committee Hajiya Khadija Abba Ibrahim and her members were on board Max Air.

Ngom Village:
The first point of call was the ongoing construction of 1000 housing estate at Ngom village. They were received by the State Emergency Management Boss Hajiya Yabawa Kolo.

After the welcome address, they were taking round the houses by the MD of the commission Mr Alkali Goni. He explained to the visiting members that the Ngom housing project consist of 1000 number 2bedroom out of the 10,000 houses the commission is billed to build across the 27 local government of the state. The linear settlement will have all the necessary facilities and the household will be provided with life support materials such as tailoring machine. The place is a beehive of activity as labourers were seen busy with the construction work.

After assessing the quality of work, the chairman of the committee spoke on behalf of the members and express satisfaction with what they saw. In her words “we came, we saw live and direct and we were highly impressed with the level of work”

Ngom village use to be the commercial nerve center around that axis. And the 1000 housing project when completed, will be connected to Mafa and Maiduguri, therefore bringing rapid development to the forlorn road.

Custom Camp:

From Noon village, the members together with their host the MD of the commission were at the Custom House IDP camp. It housed 2500 household, 13,000 individuals.

DESERT HERALD reports that the MD of the commission addressed the IDP in the local Kanuri dialect by firstly offering some words of consolation and the purpose of the committee’s visit which was to see for themselves first hand, the condition of the IDP’s .

The Chairman, Hon Khadija Abba Ibrahim also spoke in the like manner. Another member of the delegation Hon Mohammed Umar Jega also spoke in Hausa and extolled the good virtues of Governor Zulum and his unique determination to assuage the plight of the IDP’s. Other members of the committee were visibly moved by the scourge of the humanitarian crisis on ground as the whole place was a sorry sight. The SEMA Boss added that Governor Zulum promise to return all displaced persons to their ancestral home before May 29 2020.

Speaking on behalf of the IDP’s, the camp chairman Mohammed Abatcha expressed worry over food shortages and the need for increase classrooms for their children’s education. He also asked for security around the camp. The members went round the tent houses and even went inside the rooms to see how the IDP were living.

El-badawi camp:

After that, the committee also moved to MUNA EL-BADAWI CAMP which happens to be one of the largest IDP camp in the state. There, the NEDC made significant impact through the construction of a clinic and provision of other essential needs. It has IDP’s from 8 local government in its setup.

There are more than 50,000 and about 10,000 household. These number is even more than the 10,000 houses the FG plan to construct. The visit exposes the need for more intervention in the crisis ridden northeast.

Hajja Mandilla spoke on behalf of the IDP. Like the issue in Custom House Camp, she stress the need for the provision of more food in the camp as the ratio they get is inadequate. The SEMA boss also spoke gave a thorough breakdown on their mode of operation across the camp and seek for more support to be able to meet the yearnings of the IDP.

Dr Zainab whose constituents formed part of the households in the camp, spoke to them and pledge for more assistance. In Muna El-Badawi camp, food shortages, increase population as a result of Boko Haram invasion of the surrounding villages was the major source for concern.

Warehouse :

The committee then visited the NEDC warehouse and it was discovered that tonnes of grains were stored. The members were impressed by what they met but also frowned on why it should be kept while the IDP were not satisfied.

The chairman demanded for explanation and the MD explained that the commission only play supportive roles and can come in only when SEMA write to them, especially when there is an emergency. The NEDC in that regard has done excellently what it supposed to do by making provisions of adequate food items.

The chairman of the committee directed that such administrative bottleneck is uncalled for and the process be reviewed so that SEMA can access the bulk of food item as at when due.

Another member of the committee sought to know from the MD whose sole responsibility was the feeding of the IDP which the SEMA boss declared out was NEMA’s. Other items such as blankets, mattresses and mats were seen in abundance to the amazement of the visiting members.

Acquired property :

The members were able to see a property bought in the name of the commission which will be upgraded as an annex office and consist of 5 different warehouses. A well equipped 30 bed medical facility was inspected at the Stadium Camp, a fully renovated guess house with 5 unit of 5 and two bedroom flat situated at Tangale road, another well furnished guess house in Damboa road, annex office by Polo Ground were all visited and the committee gave kudos to the MD and his team and wondered how he was able to achieve so much with so little in less than a year.

The chairman of the committee, Hajiya Khadija Abba Ibrahim addressed the press and pass a vote of confidence for the commission despite its underfunding.

Motel building:

At the end of their tour on the first day, the MD of the Northeast Development commission, Mohammed Alkali took the visiting committee members to a big edifice donated to the commission by the State government to be use as its permanent office around the popular post office area in Maiduguri. The MD explained to the committee members that two issues involved slowed the renovation work supposed to be carried out in building. And as soon as it is resolved, work will commence.

Day 2:

On the second day of their visit, the committee members arrived at the temporary headquarters of the commission giving to them by the Borno state government along circular road Maiduguri. They were received by the MD Mr Mohammed Goni Alkali and a welcome address was said by the Head of Cooperate Services Baba Musa. The MD elucidate on the commission’s mandate and the success recorded in just one year of its establishment. He quickly summarized the highlight of the places visited the previous day and the need for improvement in rendering their services in the northeast.

On her part, the committee Chairman Hajiya Khadija Abba Ibrahim recounted their experiences while in the state and express the committee’s satisfaction with the developmental strides recorded by the commission as “quite impressive’. She also commended the effort of SEMA, NEMA and in particular Gov Zulu for doing their best. There after, the visiting members and the top officials of the commission took turn to introduce themselves. The session then dissolve into a close door meeting.

Shehu’s palace

The committee were also at the Shehu’s palace to pay homage and to condole the monarch on the recent death of the emir of Biu and lately, some Shehu’s family members.

The chairman thank the Shehu for granting them audience and stated that they would have been here before now if not for the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic. She touched on the purpose of their visit and promise that the outcome will be far reaching.

Responding, the Shehu welcome the committee members and commend them for finding time, despite their busy schedule to visit. He charged the committee not to limit their visit to only Maiduguri, but to also visit other local government areas and make survey even though sub committee, so for them to know the gravity of the damage caused by the decade long insecurity. He said still, some local government areas like Marte, Guzamala, Abadam remain inaccessible.

The Shehu remind the visiting committee that the number one problem of the IDP is food, education and employment. He recalled the bitter times when the state was cut off from the national grid, GSM network.

He thank the government of President Buhari and also commend the courageous efforts of Gov Zulum.

At the Maiduguri Govt House

Rounding up their two day visit, the committee paid a courtesy call on the Borno state Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum at the government house. After the introductory remarks by the chairman Khadija Bukar Abba, the governor express delight over their visit and most sincerely thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for establishing the Northeast Development commission. A move he said that brings succor to the people. Insurgency he said, has devastated the social and economic life of the people of northeast.

Zulum further said, the statistics of the devastation was so scary as the insurgents have destroyed over 400,000 homes in Borno state, about 5000 classrooms, 202 health centres, 1613 water sources, 713 energy distribution lines police stations, local government secretariat were all affected in the carnage.

The governor urge the committee to visit places like Monguno and see the reality of the humanitarian crisis in the state. He said “right now, there are more than 130,000 IDP in Niger clamouring to return home.

He tasked the committee to increase the budgetary allocation to the NEDC in their 2021 appropriation. He also commended the MD of the commission for doing his best.