Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated N47.2 billion worth of projects for the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Maiduguri, Mafa, and Jere local government areas of Borno State.
The project comprised the NEDC head office in Maiduguri, which would cost N26.8 billion on completion, and the second phase of the 27.01 km Jere Bowl Road networks in Mafa and Jere local government areas.
At the foundation laying ceremony of the NEDC office in Maiduguri, the vice president said the NEDC is a product of the people that would serve the interest of the nation, noting that every organisation that aspires to influence the welfare and future of society must draw its core from the people it sets out to serve.
He said this foundational principle guides the NEDC; hence, according to him, the institution embodies the people’s collective resolve to transform the narrative of the region from one marred by despair and devastation to one defined by renewal and triumph.
“The NEDC is a critical engine driving the development of the North-East. In the face of adversity, it has demonstrated resilience, vision, and an unyielding dedication to its mission. This laying of new infrastructure for its head office brings it closer to the people and invites them to be first-row stakeholders in implementing programs aimed at economic revitalisation.
“Today’s foundation-laying ceremony is a step towards fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise to prioritise initiatives that safeguard the interests of the North-East. This promise is not merely a political commitment but a moral obligation to the people who have endured so much and deserve nothing less than a future defined by peace, stability, and prosperity.
“The head office we gather to commence today is not just a building. It is a fortress of our shared aspirations as a people with shared objectives. This head office shall symbolise the strength of our collective will to rebuild, restore, and rise above the challenges that have long hindered the progress of the Northeast.
“As we lay this foundation, we do so with a vision of a North East that is vibrant, resilient, and forward-looking. We do so imagine our contributions to building a nation where every child has access to quality education, where healthcare is accessible to all, where infrastructure supports thriving economies, and where peace and security are the bedrock of daily life,” Shettima said.
Earlier in his remarks, the MD/ CEO of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, said section 9 (1) of the NEDC Act provides that “The Commission shall have its head office in Maiduguri, Borno State and shall establish an office in each Member State of the North-East Zone’.
“The upcoming edifice is an iconic eight-floor structure with Basement and Mezzanine Floors. Apart from its adequate and conducive office spaces, the complex will have other state-of-the-art ancillary facilities such as an expansive parking space, conference rooms, prayer halls, restaurants and catering facilities, sick bay,” he said.
