From Paul Orude Bauchi
The House of Representatives Committee on North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has urged the federal government to increase funds to the Commission to enable reach out to other states in the Northeast, considering the devastation the subregion had experienced due to activities of insurgents.
Sustained onslaught of Boko Haram insurgency, which began around 2009, had displaced millions of people and destroyed lives and property in many states in the region
Chairman of the committee, Hon Usman Zannah made the appeal, when she led members on an inspection visit to ongoing NEDC projects in Bauchi state, as part of its oversight functions.
Zannah assured of the readiness of the National Assembly to facilitate more legislative actions that will strengthen the activities of the Commission for effective service delivery.
The Chairman lauded NEDC for executing projects that had direct bearing on the lives of residents in Bauchi State.
Some of the projects inspected by the committee include the ongoing construction of the 53km Kirfi-Gombe Abba road linking Bauchi and Gombe State, reconstruction of three bridges at kalajanga, Bara and Tashan Turmi Bridges along Bauchi to Gombe highway.
Other NEDC projects in Bauchi state include construction of Institute of Ophthalmology Complex in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, rehabilitation of Shira Healthcare -in Alkaleri LGA, completion of community Healthcare center in Dagudi, Alkaleri LGA, construction of surgical ward and equipping, rehabilitation/ skills acquisition of National Obstetrics Center in Ningi.
Additional projects include the construction and equipping of a triage (medical emergency complex) center at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, reconstruction of culverts and drainage along Alkaleri-Futuk Road, Construction of Kirfi-Gombe, Abba Road – Kirfi Gombe, Establishment of 3 new forestry nurseries with general silvicultural services through: Drilling of solar powered boreholes, reticulation of water supply, chain-link fencing of borehole areas in each of the new Nurseries in Yashi (Alkaleri LGA), Bogoro LGA, Bununu (Tafawa Balewa LGA) and Kafin Madaki (Ganjuwa LGA).
He urged the contractors working at the site of the projects to ensure that they abide by the terms and reference of the projects, stressing that in doing such, the projects will last a long time and the commission will have value for the funds expended in the execution of the projects.
While conducting the Committee round some of the projects in Alkaleri and Kirfi Local Government Area, the Managing Director/CEO of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali said, that the commission was in the Bauchi State to supervise how the work was progressing in order to ensure that the projects were executed in line with the specifications and contractual agreements.
Alkali also said that all the projects were strategic to the growth and development of Bauchi State and its people, assuring that the Commission would do its best to ensure timely completion of all the projects.
The NEDC also embarked on Construction of Input Stores, Toilets, Security Posts, Nursery Sheds and perimeter chain-link Fencing at Three Nursery sites in Bauchi, Jama’re, Darazo, and Nabordo in Toro LGA as well as Drilling of 6’’ diameter (350m) API borehole with solar hybrid accessories,construction of overhead tank and provision of water points on concrete slab – Daguri, Alkaleri LGA.
There is also Drilling of 6’’ diameter (350m) api borehole with solar hybrid accessories, construction of overhead tank and provision of water points on concrete slab – Yashi, Alkaleri LGA, Drilling of 6’’ diameter (350m) API borehole with solar hybrid accessories, construction of overhead tank and provision of water points on concrete slab at Kunkar, Alkaleri LGA.
Drilling of 6’’ diameter (350m) api borehole with solar hybrid accessories, construction of overhead tank and provision of water points on concrete slab – GSSS Darazo, Darazo LGA, Drilling of 6’’ diameter (350m) api borehole with solar hybrid accessories, construction of overhead tank and provision of water points on concrete slab -Dogon Jeji, Jama’are LGA and Establishment of ICT TrainingCenter – Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi.
It also Established an ICT Training Center at Bauchi State University – Gadau Campus, SAZUG, Itas /Gadau LGA, Establishment of ICT Training Center College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Misau, Construction of 2 Blocks of 12 Classrooms each for secondary school – Bauchi LGA, Bauchi south senatorial district of Bauchi state (NEDC Mega School, Bauchi LGA) and Construction of administrative block, 4 units of 2 bedroom semi-detached staff quarters and other buildings (Commercial center, gate house and fence) – Bauchi LGA, Bauchi south senatorial district of Bauchi state. (NEDC Mega School, Bauchi LGA).
Other projects are ongoing construction of two blocks of 12 Classrooms each for primary school – Bauchi LGA, Bauchi south senatorial district of Bauchi state. (NEDC Mega School, Bauchi LGA), Construction of 2 Blocks of 12 Classrooms each for secondary school – Ningi LGA, Bauchi central senatorial district of Bauchi State. NEDC Mega School, Ningi LGA, construction of administrative block, 4 units of 2-bedroom semi detached staff quarters and other buildings (Commercial center, gate house and fence) – Ningi LGA, Bauchi central senatorial district of Bauchi state. (NEDC Mega School, NINGI LGA), Construction of 2blocks of 12 Classrooms each for primary school – Ningi LGA, Bauchi central senatorial district of Bauchi state (NEDC Mega School, Ningi LGA), Construction of two Blocks of 12 Classrooms each for secondary school – Giade LGA, Bauchi north senatorial district of Bauchi state. (NEDC Mega School Giade, Giade LGA).
Others are construction of an administrative block, four units of 2-bedroom semi-detached staff quarters and other buildings Commercial center, gate house and fence) – Giade LGA, Bauchi north senatorial district of Bauchi state. (NEDC Mega School Giade, Giade LGA).
The rest are Construction of 2 blocks of 12 Classrooms each for primary school – Giade LGA, Bauchi north senatorial district of Bauchi state. (NEDC Mega School Giade, Giade LGA, Rehabilitation of food science technology, Mechanical engineering department and a twin lecture theatre – Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Construction of fire station in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Bauchi state – Gubi campus, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Renovation of NEDC temporary Bauchi state office – NEDC Temporary Office, Bauchi LGA, Construction of NEDC Bauchi State – Adjacent V.I.O office, along Bauchi Jos Road, Bauchi and Construction of 48 shops, mosque, two blocks of toilets, one (1) restaurant, two (2) sheds, one (1) water outlet, gate house with security posts and one (1) solar powered borehole – Soro cattle market in Ganjuwa LGA.