NEDC’s 50kms Road Project Will Create Jobs To Over Million People In Borno – Zulum
By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
GOVERNOR of Borno state, Professor Babagana Zulum has said, the ongoing Jere Bowl construction of about 50 kilometres road project which crisscrossed six communities of Gwowom, Koshebe, Dusuman, Gadamari, Zabarmari and Gongulong in Jere and Mafa local government areas by the North East Development Commission (NEDC), would provide job opportunities to over one million people if completed.
Recall that, the Jere Bowl which was awarded at a total cost of N13.55 billion to a Chinese Construction Company, hitherto unveiled by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima early this year, has reached its completion stage, and will due for Commissioning in November 2024.
This as the Governor said, the lingering Boko Haram insurgency has triggered acute humanitarian crisis and displacement of innocent civilians from their ancestral homes, which forced 3.6 million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs living in formal camps in 2014, but with support from the federal government, security agencies and stakeholders, especially Non-Governmental Organization, NGOs, most of these IDPs have been resettled back to their communities.
Zulum stated this on Friday when Chairman House Committee on NEDC, Hon. Usman Zannah led other members, including the Managing Director of the Commission, Mohammed Alkali on a courtesy call, a day after his team went round some major completed and ongoing projects in Maiduguri as part of oversight function.
The governor who appreciated the laudable people oriented projects executed by NEDC, said, such gesture have complement efforts of the present administration, but like Oliver Twist, the Commission should explore other means by supporting the state in its Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR) of victims of insurgency.
“Presently, we have closed down all our formal camps, only 1.2 million IDPs are now living in our informal camps around Madinatu and Muna general area, but very soon, or before the end of this year, we must close down these camps, because, these IDPs depends largely on government and other humanitarian organizations, and this is not sustainable, we must look for a long term durable solutions.
“More worrisome is the increasing rate of prostitution, drug abuse, early marriage or child labour and all sorts of unwholesome behaviors in these camps.
“Based on the outcome of Recovery and Peace Building Assessment (RPBA) by European Union, E.U and World Bank, the entire North East states lost about $6.9 billion U.S Dollars, out of this amount, Borno state account to about two-thirds, which is close to about $5 billion U.S Dollars, and therefore, the establishment of the NEDC is a saving grace to the entire region, as our security situation has now improved for about 80%.” Zulum stated.
The Governor who is the Chairman North East Governors Forum also called on NEDC to key into restoring power to the region as most of its electric towers have been vandalized by terrorists.
“In our last meeting we had in Bauchi last week, we have taken far reaching decisions, one of which is to provide 10 megawatts of Solar Power in each of the six states of region, and we appealed for the NEDC and members of this very important Committee to support us in actualizing this Power Project.” The governor stressed.
Earlier in his address, Hon Zannah who represent Kaga, Magumeri and Gubio federal constituency in Borno state assured the government and people of the state that his committee will work hand in hand with other stakeholders to ensure more projects are executed for the benefit of mankind in the region and the country as a whole.
“We came into Maiduguri two days ago, we went round some of the major projects executed by NEDC, especially the Jere Bowl road construction, and we are fully satisfied with quality of the work done. I must commend the Managing Director of the Commission and his team, Mohammed Alkali for a job well done.” Zannah said.
He then appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima and the leadership of the house of representatives for giving them the opportunity to serve as members of this very crucial committee, which he said, they are determined to ensure NEDC fulfil all its mandates in the region.
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