The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NEDC

  • NEDC deploys N3bn ophthalmology equipment, launches two-week health programme in Borno

    NEDC deploys N3bn ophthalmology equipment, launches two-week health programme in Borno

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced the implementation of a two-week medical health programme aimed at improving healthcare delivery and enhancing the overall health outcomes of residents in the region.

    Findings by our correspondent revealed that the Commission has launched the Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, with the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over ₦3 billion.

    The programme, which began on Monday, marks a significant milestone in the NEDC’s efforts to strengthen specialist healthcare services and reduce the incidence of preventable blindness across the North-East.

    It was gathered that activities at the facility commenced with the installation, calibration and coupling of the state-of-the-art equipment, alongside hands-on technical and clinical training for hospital personnel to ensure effective and sustainable utilisation.

    The training programme is being led by the Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday and a multidisciplinary team of ophthalmology and biomedical engineering experts.

    Hospital authorities confirmed that participants drawn from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and biomedical engineers.

    They are currently undergoing intensive practical sessions focused on equipment operation, maintenance and efficient clinical application.

    The authorities of the NEDC said the intervention would significantly boost the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the treatment of cataract and glaucoma, while supporting its long-term goal of transforming the Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence.

    In addition to the equipment deployment, the Commission is carrying out extensive renovations and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to enhance modern clinical operations and patient experience.

    It was learnt that similar ophthalmic interventions are also underway across the North-East, including the construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which began last year and is slated for accelerated implementation this year.

    The Commission, through its Media Department, described the initiative as a strategic investment that combines advanced medical infrastructure with targeted human capacity development.

    The NEDC emphasized that the ₦3 billion intervention programme would have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region, in addition to various ongoing infrastructure projects in the six states of the region. 

  • NEDC donates food items to vulnerable Adamawa groups

    NEDC donates food items to vulnerable Adamawa groups

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has started distributing essential food items to vulnerable groups and key organisations in Adamawa state as part of a renewed effort to ease the work of institutions that support communities across the state.

    Flagging off the distribution in Yola, the Adamawa State NEDC Coordinator, Khalifa Lawan, said the outreach aligns with a directive from the Commission’s headquarters to reach out to organisations and vulnerable groups before the end of the year.

    “Today, we have commenced the distribution of these items to key organisations that play vital roles in our society. The gesture is to support them and ease their work as they continue serving the public and vulnerable people in their care,” Lawan said.

    Read Also: Five visa-free countries you could visit for Christmas

    Lawan reaffirmed NEDC’s commitment to supporting institutions and vulnerable groups across the North East, describing such interventions as central to the NEDC’s mandate of uplifting communities and improving social welfare

    The beneficiaries include the Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Damilu; Goni Musa Tumo Tsangayya Wauro Jabbe Islamic School, the Nigerian Union of Journalists; Jama’atu Nasril Islam, a children’s home, as well as the Jimeta and Yolde-Pate Correctional centres.

    Items which include spaghetti and vegetable oil were delivered directly to the organisations which expressed appreciation for the support.

  • Herders decry poor budgetary support from NEDC

    Herders decry poor budgetary support from NEDC

    The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), has decried poor budgetary support from the  North East Development Commission (NEDC), requesting that the commission  to significantly incorporate livestock development into its 2026 policies and programmes.

    KACRAN made the appeal in a statement signed by its National President Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello. 

    The association acknowledged the significant achievements of the NEDC in rebuilding and rehabilitating the North East but flayed the profound impact of insecurity and insurgency on the region’s pastoralist communities.

    The statement reads: “Pastoralists operate primarily in the bushes, the epicentre of the conflict, making them and their livestock the most vulnerable. Countless pastoralists have been killed, and hundreds of thousands of livestock—their sole means of livelihood—have been stolen or rustled.

    “A critical shocking assessment reveals that North East pastoralists have been at the receiving end of the commission’s programmes. We have received minimal direct benefits from the annual billions allocated for the region’s development projects, as these projects mainly focus on urban infrastructure (houses, roads, bridges) that do not and would never address our unique desired needs.”

     KACRAN went on to  appeal to the NEDC leadership to address this imbalance with immediate and long-term actions.

    Read Also: Herders proffer solutions to crisis with farmers

    “Just as the NEDC builds and distributes houses, we urgently request the Commission to procure and distribute thousands of livestock to our members whose herds were stolen or destroyed by insurgents.

    “We call for the provision of animal feed, water points, relief materials, and palliative support for our internally displaced members who have been completely ruined by the insurgency.

    “We urge the NEDC to make a serious and dedicated commitment to Livestock Development in its 2026 Policies and Programmes. This is the only way to ensure fairness and compensate for the structural neglect our communities have faced since the Commission’s creation.

    “KACRAN believes that by engaging in robust livestock development, the NEDC can truly align with the spirit of fairness and inclusive development, thereby helping the North East pastoralist communities rebuild their livelihoods and contribute fully to the region’s economic recovery.”

    He said: “Our investigation has so far uncovered massive revenue losses amounting to over $300 billion in unaccounted crude oil proceeds over the years. This represents one of the most troubling cases of economic sabotage our nation has ever faced.”

    The committee, he said has  “made far-reaching recommendations to end this long-standing menace. These include: The strict enforcement of international crude oil measurement standards at all production and export points.

    “Mandating the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to deploy modern, tamper-proof measuring technology or returning this function to the Department of Weights and Measures under the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

    “The deployment of advanced surveillance systems, including drones, to assist security agencies in combating oil theft. The creation of a Special Court for Crude Oil Theft to ensure swift prosecution of offenders and their collaborators.

    “Full implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to empower local communities and reduce sabotage.

    “Ceding abandoned oil wells to the NUPRC for allocation to modular refineries to support local production and job creation.

    “The committee also seeks an expanded mandate to track, trace, and recover stolen crude oil proceeds, both locally and internationally. Forensic reviews show over $22 billion, $81 billion, and $200 billion remain unaccounted for across different audit periods.

    “This is a national call to action. Nigeria cannot afford to continue losing trillions to corruption, inefficiency, and criminal networks. I remain committed, alongside my colleagues, to ensuring accountability, recovery, and reform within the oil and gas sector.”

  • Darajamal community: NEDC distributes relief to 1,000 households in Borno

    Darajamal community: NEDC distributes relief to 1,000 households in Borno

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has provided essential relief materials to 1,000 households in the Darajamal community, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, following a recent insurgency attack.

    The Nation reports that over 50 villagers were killed, while many others sustained injuries or were displaced after the attack on Friday, September 5, 2025.

    The distribution exercise was carried out by the NEDC’s Borno State Office, led by Coordinator Engr. Mohammed Umar, who spoke on behalf of the Managing Director, Mohammed G. Alkali.

    He offered condolences to the community, prayed for the deceased and injured, and stressed that the aid underscores the Commission’s commitment to supporting insurgency-affected communities in the North East.

    Read Also: NEDC commissions 13 projects in Borno

    Also speaking, Aishatu Mohammed Hassan, Head of Branch Operations for the NEDC, reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to assisting vulnerable communities. She noted that the Commission’s master plan for regional reconstruction and socioeconomic development is designed to transform communities across the North East.

    The chairman of Bama LGA, Alhaji Ali Guja, along with other community leaders, thanked the NEDC for its swift response and promised that the supplies would be used wisely.

    The distributed items included food and non-food supplies, such as rice, vegetable oil, pasta, blankets, clothing, and rubber mats.

    The Nation gathered that the aid is meant to help ease the suffering of residents affected by the violence.

  • NEDC commissions 13 projects in Borno

    NEDC commissions 13 projects in Borno

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commissioned 13 critical projects across Borno State, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the region’s recovery and long-term development. 

    The commissioning ceremony was led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Maigari Uba with Borno Governor Babagana Zulum and other key stakeholders.

    The projects, spanning from. infrastructure, healthcare, security, and education, are part of the NEDC’s broader mandate to rebuild and stabilize the North East following years of insurgency. 

    Uba emphasised that the newly established Ministry of Regional Development (MRD), under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, aims to coordinate inclusive development across all six geopolitical zones.

    “The establishment of the NEDC was borne out of the need to rebuild and stabilize the region,” he stated while also highlighting the alignment of these projects with the North East Stabilization and Development Plan (NESDP) and Borno’s 25-year Development Master Plan. 

    He also extended condolences to the people of Borno State for the recent flooding incident in the state.

     Zulum lauded the NEDC’s interventions, noting that the “people-oriented” projects would significantly complement his administration’s efforts to meet the aspirations of its citizens.

    Read Also: NEDC launches maternal, child health, eye care outreach in Adamawa

    Managing Director of the NEDC, Mohammed Alkali detailed over 70 completed projects by the commission, with the 13 newly commissioned initiatives in the state.

    Alkali mentioned some of the projects commissioned to include in the security sector to include:  New Police Stations and Barracks in Bama and Konduga local government areas. The healthcare sector has: An upgraded Borno State Central Medical Store (now pharma-grade with cold chain systems); renovated Male and Female Wards at the Federal Neuropsychiatric and Borno State Dental Hospitals in Maiduguri; a fully equipped Borno State Eye Hospital; and an Ultra-Modern Clinic with ambulance and solar power lights at the DSS Command along Maiduguri-Kano road.

    Other projects include: A 129.6kWh solar hybrid mini-grid with a 360kWh backup generator; and 60 functional boreholes providing water to underserved communities; 3,500 solar-powered streetlights installed across strategic locations; An ICT Centre for students of Federal Polytechnic Monguno and Borno Agency for Mass Literacy, Maiduguri.

    The Commission also.Handed over building materials (blocks, roofing sheets, nails) to the Borno State Government and office equipment to the Borno High Court.

    Hon. Usman Zannah, Chairman of the House Committee on NEDC, representing the House and Senate Committees, pledged maximum support and cooperation to the ministry, NEDC, and Borno State government in addressing the humanitarian challenges in the region.

  • NEDC launches maternal, child health, eye care outreach in Adamawa

    NEDC launches maternal, child health, eye care outreach in Adamawa

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has launched a maternal and child health, along with eye care outreach programme in Adamawa State, as part of a broader initiative covering all six states under its jurisdiction.

    The medical outreach, held in partnership with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), was officially flagged off on Thursday in Girei Local Government Area, where the eye care segment of the programme is currently ongoing.

    At the Cottage Hospital in Girei, NMA doctors are providing consultations and treatments. Speaking to journalists, the Acting Chairman of the NMA in Adamawa, Dr. Nathaniel Noel, said thousands of patients with eye conditions are expected to benefit from the programme. 

    He added that the team anticipates conducting hundreds of surgeries and distributing free medical supplies and eyeglasses.

    Dr. Noel also highlighted the maternal and child health component, noting that pregnant women will receive Mama Kits provided by the NEDC.

    “This is a life-saving kit essential for women during childbirth. It includes vital medications and consumables required during labour,” he explained.

    Read Also: Adamawa assures fairness as over 60,000 apply for 4,000 civil service jobs

    Representing the NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali, at the event, Dr. Batulu Mohammed, Head of Sanitation and Health Matters at the Commission, said the outreach is being replicated across all six states under the NEDC’s mandate.

    “This initiative recognises that many people cannot access or afford hospital care. The Commission is bringing healthcare directly to the communities,” she said.

    “We take required services to the doorstep of the people. This is what is happening today, so that even those in hard-to-reach areas can benefit.”

    In his welcome speech, the Executive Chairman of Girei Local Government, Hon Adamu Umar, said he was overwhelmed that the NEDC would choose Girei for the exercise.

  • Minister sets agenda for development commissions

    Minister sets agenda for development commissions

    Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, on Thursday, urged the development commissions to work towards a common national objective of equitable and sustainable development that leaves no citizen behind in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He spoke in Lagos at the opening of a three-day ‘retreat on institutional coordination for development’.

    Its theme is: “Improving institutional coordination for better development results.”

    The participants include the management and staff of the ministry, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North East Development Commission (NEDC), South East Development Commission (SEDC), and North West Development Commission (NWDC).

    On the tasks before them, the minister said: “Our agenda must prioritise growth, bridges, transportation needs, investments, healthcare delivery, security, digital infrastructure, and youth/women empowerment.”

    To drive and sustain performance, Momoh stressed that the ministry will introduce a system of peer review among the commissions to foster healthy competition and continuous improvement.

    According to him, NEDC, SEDC, and NWDC will sign a performance bond with the ministry, with benchmarks and performance indicators against which they will be assessed.

    He urged the management and staff of the ministry and commissions to operate with the spirit of healthy competition and work in harmony.

    “As success is collective, the development of one region contributes to the stability and prosperity of the entire nation,” he said.

    Giving insight into why the agencies were created, Momoh said: “The president, in his characteristic wisdom and foresight, has prioritised regional development, planning and implementation by establishing five new regional development commissions, in addition to the two already in existence, each representing the six geo-political zones.

    “This bold initiative is anchored on a strategic commitment to development, recognising the need for a multi-sectoral approach to catalyse regional development.”

    He said the NEDC is rebuilding infrastructure and restoring hope; the SEDC is expected to catalyse economic growth, industrialisation, infrastructural development, and social integration, while the NWDC will focus on restoring stability, enhancing agricultural productivity, and rebuilding infrastructure in communities affected by banditry.

    Read Also: Minister greets women, staff on Workers Day

    He said new projects will commence while existing ones will be completed.

    Momoh said the event was an opportunity to reflect on the assignment and strengthen the synergy between the ministry and the commissions with the aim of transforming the regions into “zones of prosperity”.

    Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, said there is a plan to replicate the 50-bed hospital project in most of the commissions.

    He said the new commissions will conduct a needs assessment, adding that new projects will be initiated where necessary, while existing ones will be completed.

    According to him, the retreat was to understand each commission’s mandate and share ideas, adding that it will not be another talk shop.

    Also at the event were chairmen and managing directors of the commissions.

  • Minister, senators task SEDC, NEDC members on transparency, accountability

    Minister, senators task SEDC, NEDC members on transparency, accountability

    …Momoh insists it’s Edo’s turn to head NDDC

    The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, Chairman Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Senator Orji Kalu and his counterpart on the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Senator Babangida Hussaini have urged members of both commissions to avoid corrupt practices and ensure accountability and transparency in all they do.

    They also cautioned the members against engaging in unhealthy competition with state governments within their area of coverage, but to collaborate with them to ensure that their activities meet the needs of the people and impact positively on their respective regions.

    Momoh, Kalu and Hussaini spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during the inauguration of the boards of the SEDC and the NWDC.

    The minister, who commended President Bola Tinubu for his prompt assent to the Bills establishing the commissions and the National Assembly for coming up with the Bills, said the commissions are intended by the Federal Government to ensure even and speedy development in all regions of the country.

    He urged the commissions to align their programmes a d activities with the key priority areas of the the President ‘s Renewed Hope Agenda, which includes reform the economy for sustained and inclusive growth; strengthen national security for peace and prosperity; improve agriculture to achieve food security, and harness energy and natural resources for sustainable development, and  enhance infrastructure as enablers of growth.

    Other priority areas, he added, are focus on education, health and social investment as essential pillars of development; accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing and innovation; improve governance for effective service.

    Read Also: Valentine’s Day: Celebrate responsibly, NACA urges Nigerians

    You must adhere strictly with due process at all times and all relevant laws in that regard. You must particularly comply with the provisions of the Procurement Act and other financial regulations in force.

    Every contracts above the threshold of the commission is to be referred to the ministry and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as the case may be. Any breach of contract approval limit attracts severe sanctions.

    He said the law setting up the commission makes his ministry the supervisory body over the commission, which powers are exercisable by the minister.

    Momoh added: “I urge you to form strong partnership with state governments, the private sector a d development partners to maximise resources and expertise, while also engaging local communities to ensure inclusivity and their participation in the development process.”

    The minister faulted the call for the replacement of the current Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with someone from Delta State.

    He said such call was misplaced, noting that even when the current NDDC MD ends his tenure, it will be the turn of Edo State to produce a successor, and not Delta state.

    Kalu urged members of both commissions to ensure that they focus on project that add value to the life of the people.

    He added: “Go in and look for new innovations. Innovations like building common railway systems for the regions, building common power plants, building cottage industries that will serve our people and engage the unemployed.

    “If you produce groundnuts and you don’t add value by processing them, you have done nothing. If you produce coal in Enugu and you do not process it, you have also not achieved nothing. Let us use our God given natural resources to energise our economy.

    “Our duty in the Senate is to look at your budget and  look at the projects you are doing. Be rest assured that, in our duty to oversight and as inspectors ,we will inspect you very well.

    “The minister has told you to use the people’s money for the people. Make decent profit. Don’t go there and steal like they used to do in the NDDC until the current Managing Director stopped it,” Kalu said.

    The ex-Abia State Governor  commended the leadership of the North East Development Commission, which he said has initiated projects that have positively impacted on the region.

    Hussaini, who spoke in similar vein, urged members of both commissions not to betray the trust reposed in them by those who found them worthy of such appointments.

    “For us at the Senate, we will chase the money. We will prepare your budget and ensure that Nigerians get value for their money,” he said.

    Chairman of the SEDC, Senator Emeka Wogu and his counterpart in the NEDC, Prof Lawal Abdullahi assured that they would do their best to discharge their duties creditably.

  • NEDC to introduce e-vehicles for intra-state transportation in northeast

    NEDC to introduce e-vehicles for intra-state transportation in northeast

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has unveiled plans to introduce electric vehicles in Northeast Nigeria, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to promote cleaner energy.

    Managing Director of the NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the State House in Abuja, after meeting with President Tinubu.

    According to Alkali, the commission conducted a thorough analysis of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles (e-vehicles) and concluded that e-vehicles are better suited for the region.

    This decision was influenced by plans to create modular solar power units across states, providing a standby power source for the e-vehicles.

    He said the e-vehicle fleet will comprise three categories: e-buses designed for intra-state movements with a minimum capacity of 40 people per trip, e-taxis capable of carrying three people including the driver, and modified tricycles enhanced to carry eight people including the driver.

    The commission prioritized local content, ensuring that vehicle bodies could be fabricated locally in the Northeast or other regions.

    “We are here today to brief Mr President on one very critical activity he has approved which we had to engage in the last two months.

    “As you can recall, there’s a directive from the President that cars as soon as possible should use CNG or electric vehicles, and we at the Northeast Development Commission did a thorough analysis of our region, because we cover six states in Northeast Region, and look at the comparable advantage between CNG and e-vehicles.

    “After our thorough analysis, we concluded that for the Northeast region, yes, the CNG could work, but e-vehicles can work better for many reasons.

    “One is that our plan at the end of the day is to create modular solar power units across the state that can be used to power this percentage of e-vehicles.

    “On that note, earlier on, we sought and got approval from the Presidency for us to go ahead and come up with the framework of how we are going to deploy this e-mobility in the northeast and what kind of e-mobility, etc, and Mr. President graciously gave approval, and today we came to present to him the kind of e-vehicles we are going to introduce in the Northeast.

    “There are three categories. One is the E-busses, which can carry about 40 people or passengers at a given point in time, at the minimum, and that’s it for intrastate, not interstate. And also we brought some samples of e-taxis which normally will carry three people passengers as well as the driver, and we also brought in a highly modified tricycle.

    “Most of the tricycles we have in the North East or elsewhere only carry three people plus the driver four, but in our case, we have modified it to carry eight people plus the driver, and it’s fully covered and very convenient, and we are also, knowing the kind of weight and people we are going to carry, we’ve asked our engineers to modify the physical structure of the tricycle. When you look at it, you can see the tires are bigger, the prime is bigger, and so and so forth.

    “Also, in doing that, we also consider local content that the body can be fabricated locally in the North East or somewhere else in the region.

    “So today we made a presentation to the President. And delightfully, the chairman is here and Mr. President approved that we should go ahead and deploy the e-mobility in the northeast in region,” he said.

    Read Also: NEDC intervenes as bridge linking southern Adamawa with Borno collapses

    President Tinubu had approved the deployment of e-mobility in the Northeast, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient transportation system.

    Speaking on the potential of the Northeast, Alkali said the commission has developed comprehensive master plans that cover 11pillars that will fully activate the action plan for the initiative.

    Alkali further made known that the Commission will engage stakeholders, especially the road transport workers thereby integrating their concerns and advice before the final stage of activating the e-vehicles across the Northeast states of Nigeria.

    “We will engage stakeholders, especially road transport workers to integrate their concerns and advice”, he added.

  • NEDC intervenes as bridge linking southern Adamawa with Borno collapses

    NEDC intervenes as bridge linking southern Adamawa with Borno collapses

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has committed to rebuilding a collapsed bridge in Madagali, a town in the northern part of Adamawa State which shares a borderline with Borno State.

    The bridge, which serves as a vital link for residents of Madagali, Michika, and parts of Hong local government areas to access their farms and relatives in neighbouring Goza LGA and beyond in Borno State, was destroyed by erosion over the weekend.

    This collapse has forced commuters to stop their vehicles on either side of the Madagali River and carry their belongings across by foot to waiting vehicles on the other side.

    After inspecting the damaged bridge on Sunday afternoon, NEDC Managing Director Alhaji Mohammed Alkali announced that the necessary approvals for reconstruction have been secured.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze commends Obasanjo, Sanwo-Olu for condemning Igbo-must-go hashtag

    He assured that work would commence without delay, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the NEDC to undertake the reconstruction.

    “We are swinging into action on it,” Alkali said.

    Pointing to a representative of the construction company contracted for the job who was on his entourage, the NEDC MD said the construction company would do its valuation and very likely be formally contracted to do the job.

    The Nation observed that work on the Madagali Bridge would be a major one, and the reconstruction process may take a while.

    Alkali assured, however, that a makeshift passage more convenient than the users now have will be put in place while the reconstruction process continues.

    Meanwhile, residents and users of the bridge have appealed for a speedy reconstruction process.

    One of the Madagali residents, Suleiman Abubakar who said his people and those of northern Borno are already enduring much pain, said commodity prices have risen as transportation now includes often having to pay labourers to convey the commodities across the river.