Published By Olukayode Idowu
The Federal Government has handed over multiple projects constructed in troubled Borno State to government of the state, University of Maiduguri and it’sTeaching Hospital (UMTH).
The projects were constructed by the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC).
The project were commissioned and handed over on Thursday in Maiduguri by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq
She also used the occasion to distribute both food and non-food items to Internally Displaced Persons taking refuge at various camps in the state.
Speaking during the occasion, the Minister said the projects will go a long way to improve economic activities and improve the social well-being of the most vulnerable among us.
She lamented that COVID-19 Pandemic, lockdown, low rain fall, poverty among others are responsible for these situations of high cost of food stuff, relative hardship among others that we presently found ourselves in the country.
She said that President Muhamadu Buhari has put a lot of policies and programmes toward enhancing socio-economic activities in the country.
She said also added that the office of the Vice President has put a lot of polices and protection programmes in place to enhance socio-economic activities in the country.
She however noted that commissioned Ngwom 1000 Housing Project was part of the 10,000 Housing Units approved by President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
Umar-Farouq commended the efforts of the Managing Director of NEDC and his team for a job well-done, while praising Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for discharging his responsibilities in fairness and inclusiveness.
She said she has seen light at the end of the tunnel of insurgency in the North East.
On his part the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Mohammed Alkali commended President Muhammadu Buhari for establishing the Commission that has been instrumental in the support and alleviation of the hardship of the people of the North East.
He noted that the Commission has established vocational training centres, built housing units, distributed food and non-food Items to internally displaced persons.
Alkali said the 1000 Housing Units consist of two blocks, with socio economic activities such as solar powered electricity, four solar powered boreholes, market, police station, vocational training centre, schools among others.
He said that the NEDC will also provide 5000 pieces of mats, 5000 slippers, 5000 mattress, women wrappers, 50kg of rice and spaghetti making machine, among others for the households after a thorough screening to identify their needs.
He also said that that the Commission has constructed Burn Centre at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital with a power generator to power electricity.
He noted that the Commission has also trained 2500 teeming youths in ICT related field and each of the graduands went home with starter park of N20,000 worth each.
Also present at the occasion are the Chairman of the NEDC Gen. Paul Tarfa (Rtd), the United Nations Resident Coordinator on Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Edward Kallon, the Chief Host, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai El-Kanemi, Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, and Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.