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Tag: NEDC

  • NEDC lifts victims of Maiduguri market fire with N2b

    NEDC lifts victims of Maiduguri market fire with N2b

    The Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) has donated N2 billion to victims of the Maiduguri Monday market fire.

    The market was engulfed in fire on February 26.

    Managing Director of NEDC, Goni Alkali, made the donation when the team visited Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government House.

    Alkali said: “Some months ago, the famous Maiduguri Monday Market was ravaged by fire, causing traders to lose their goods and shops.

    “Today, we are here to assist the traders. The NEDC is providing a grant of N2 billion to support them in restarting their businesses.”

    Alkali also highlighted Governor Zulum’s promise to swiftly rebuild the market, which has been fulfilled.

    Chairman of the NEDC, Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd), restated the commission’s determination to fulfil its mandate.

    He said: “We are here to understand what the state needs from us. We have visited Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and now Borno, and soon we will extend our support to Adamawa and Taraba states. Borno State has made commendable progress in education, health, and agriculture.”

    Read Also: Afenifere leader Fasoranti congratulates Tinubu

    Governor Zulum promised to ensure the donation donation reaches the affected traders, with the involvement of relevant authorities.

    He praised NEDC for its continuous support to traders, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and governments of the Northeast states.

    The governor also urged the commission to address the root causes of the Boko Haram insurgency by investing in security, education, health, mechanised agriculture, infrastructure, and roads. He stressed that failure to do so could have severe consequences, not only for the Northeast, but for the entire country.

    He said: “Boko Haram and ISWAP have caused extensive destruction, including over 500 classrooms, 800 municipal buildings, 1 million houses, displaced over 3.5 million people, and the suffering of thousands of widows and orphans. They have also destroyed property worth over $6.7 billion, with a significant portion of this damage in Borno State, according to a UN report.”

  • NEDC donates N2b to Maiduguri Monday Market inferno victims

    NEDC donates N2b to Maiduguri Monday Market inferno victims

    The Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) has donated N2 billion to support the affected traders of the Maiduguri’s Monday Market fire.

     The Monday Market, which was consumed by flames on February 26, this year, resulted in the loss of goods, shops, and properties worth billions of Naira.

    The Managing Director of NEDC, Goni Alkali, announced the donation during a visit to Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri.

    He expressed the commission’s commitment to helping the affected traders. He said: “Some months ago, the famous Maiduguri Monday Market was ravaged by fire, causing traders to lose their goods and shops. Today, we are here to assist the traders. The NEDC is providing a grant of N2 billion to support them in restarting their businesses.”

    Alkali further highlighted Zulum’s promise to rebuild the market, which has been fulfilled.The grant from NEDC aims to offer the traders a fresh start.

    Read Also: ‘NEDC will re-discover socio-economic possibilities for Northeast region’

    Chairman of the Commission, Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd), emphasised the NEDC’s determination to fulfill its mandate. “We are here to understand what the state needs from us. We have visited Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and now Borno, and soon we will extend our support to Adamawa and Taraba states. Borno State has made commendable progress in education, health, and agriculture,” he said.

    Zulum reiterated his commitment to ensuring that every NEDC donation reached the affected traders.

     He commended NEDC for its continuous support to traders, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and the governments of the Northeastern states.

    Zulum also urged the commission to address the causes of the Boko Haram insurgency by investing in security, education, health, mechanized agriculture, infrastructure, and roads.

      He stressed that failure to do so could have severe consequences not only for the Northeast but for the entire country.

    He stated: “Boko Haram and ISWAP have caused extensive destruction, including over 500 classrooms, 800 municipal buildings, 1 million houses, displacement of over 3.5 million people, and the suffering of thousands of widows and orphans. They have also destroyed property worth over $6.7 billion, with a significant portion of this damage occurring in Borno state, according to a UN report.”

      Zulum expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by NEDC, particularly to IDPs in Borno, and he hoped that the commission would support President BolaTinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

  • Northeast development: Memo to NEDC

    The North-East Development Commission has indeed come to stay. Few days ago, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the commission with the sum of N10 billion as its take-off grant.

    The team is no doubt comprised of men of tested capacity and integrity and is poised to set the ball rolling. This piece seeks to add to their copious wealth of experience documented in their record of endeavours.

    It is pertinent to note that, expectations are high in the face of challenging “Nigeriaism”. The Nigeriaism as coined by the author refers to the tendency that a project was designed to work yet knowing it will fail. This paradox has remained the bane of the Nigerian predicament. Politicians and powerful players are the culprits. For the team to succeed, it must be determined to tackle this monster headlong and reciprocate this trust by standing in on the letters to work and not to fail.

    It would not be out of place to see piles of recommendations in favour of individuals and corporate entities flying from politicians and powerful players as a payback for favour or role played for the birth of the commission or the commissioners themselves. There may be no harm in honouring recommendations after all, but it must speak positively to the result framework; anything short of this is an imminent recipe for a failure. For every response to such a fate, it must be weighed against these; does it align to fairness, goodwill, outcome and impact? When all these are on the affirmative, then heaven can be pleased with the action thereof. This singular action and inactions of the powerful have ridiculed some inspiration and aspiration that has been well thought off yet sublimes into obscurity.

    Aside the above factor, unaccountable humanitarian organizations litter around; accurate details of local and international partners working in the domain is imperative, while their presence marks some forms of fraternity but leaving them without control can make them foes rather than friends. It is a clear example of the popular saying; “too many cooks spoil the broth”. A good mapping of all organizations working to promote development should be handy, their modus operandi gazetted including their budget and area of comparative advantage. A leap on these will secure the zone from indolence, duplication of duties and cost and the needless acrimonies associated with unhealthy competitions that abound on the field.

    As the goal of the commission is to catalyze the rebuilding/rehabilitation of the Boko Haram-ravaged Northeast, it also instructive to note that while addressing the immediate cause(s) of the mayhem, a searchlight on the remote causes would be more rewarding. As it stands today there are countless formations/battalion of Nigerian Army that has yet brought the needed peace and tranquillity in the zone; this is a signal that there is need for concerted efforts in engendering both social and physical security.

    In coming up with strategic interventions, the need to understand the socio-cultural dynamic of the region as topmost priority; sensitization of community gatekeepers should be sacrosanct (the religious and traditional institutions as key players at every stage of planning and implementation of the intervention).

    One prominent feature in the socio-cultural setting in the Northeast that can hardly be unconnected with the Boko Haram history and evolution is the Almajiranci. This Almajirci is a common practice in a man history. This involved moving away from immediate family to another distance place of abode devoid of immediate parental care in search of Islamic knowledge\education. This sojourn can start as early as five years of life or even less. It is believed that the farther away from home, the less distraction and better understanding of values. But over the years, this has not only shown to the contrary. It reflects a big disservice to the growth and development of the individual to the extent of nipping ones potential. Further understanding of the source-book where the idea was drawn from to which most households canvases it ratio from reveals how completely it is riotous to the Islamic teaching. It is therefore golden to pitch tent with interventions and activities that can demystify its spread and acceptability.

    There is no gainsaying that at the latent period of Almajirci, the parent experiences the graveyard peace as no dime will be expended on food, education, health and upbringing of this child/ward, albeit at the expense of the child-scorching experience of deprivation, education, hunger, disease, shelter, companionship and empathy with increased vulnerability to all sorts of deviant behaviours. The stride therefore should be geared towards mitigating compelling factors that swell Almajirci to thrive. It is therefore modest to look into programs that engender increase awareness on Islamic stands on care of children, education and mentoring of children, programs that empower parents and addresses poverty especially women, health and wellness programs for all and a befitting integrated Islamic / Western Education system; this will aptly capture and account for all children who are within and out of the care of their parents/guardians.

    To say that only social safe net intervention is all it is to address this quagmire is to say the least; it may help resolve the program as a long term measure, quick win that can be achieved as the low hanging fruits are the physical policing of the local and international territory. The borders are porous and need diligent policing and intelligent gathering on the influx and out flux of persons into the territory; by this it means relationship/stakeholders management by the commission is key, the army, police, immigration, customs and even the local security structures is very important.

    It is important also to note the tragedy of the communities around states with borders. It is palpably clear that the fraternity and loyalty generated between persons living around the border town even though belong to different nationality sparks of the theory of “Conspiracy of Silence”. An alien will be many folds safer and secured if hails from the locality around the border than a true national who hails far kilometres away from the bordering communities. This can be explained by homogeneity in cultural practices and gradual transition seen around this area.

    In conclusion; it is heart-warming that the Northeast commission has come to stay; with the aim of rebuilding the area ravaged by the Boko Haram. To achieve this, it is imperative for the team to understand the dynamism that shall play out vis-à-vis a firm grip of the root and immediate causes of this menace. An expanded team with multi-disciplinary skills and task shall go a long way in bringing peace and tranquillity to the Northeast.

     

    • Dr Abdul is a public affairs commentator; can be reached @ babaabdul2003@gmail.com

  • Senate excludes Kano, Plateau from NEDC

    Efforts to allow the future inclusion of Kano and Plateau States, as beneficiaries of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), failed yesterday in the Senate.

    This is coming as the upper chamber sought adequate financial provision for NEDC in the 2018 budget

    President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, assented to a bill seeking the establishment of a commission to spearhead the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of the people and infrastructure affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States.

    Although the Senate included Kano and Plateau among states to be covered by the commission, they were later expunged at the conference between committees of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) sought the approval of the Senate to allow the inclusion of the states in any future amendments of the Act. His prayer, seconded by Senator Jeremiah Useni (Plateau South), read: “Whenever in the future the NEDC Act is amended, Kano and Plateau States should be included.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu put the prayer to a voice vote and the lawmakers voted against it.

    Ekweremadu repeated the voice vote and the result was a resounding nay, as the lawmakers stood their ground against any future inclusion of the two states as part of NEDC states.

    Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), and 15 others, asked for a similar commission for the development of their zones.

    Senator James Manager (Delta South), who praised President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for the act, urged the Senate to do likewise for the South East Development Commission Bill, which, according to him, has passed the second reading.

  • Senate blocks future inclusion of Kano, Plateau in NEDC

    Senate blocks future inclusion of Kano, Plateau in NEDC

    Spirited efforts to pave the way for the future inclusion of Kano and Plateau States as part of beneficiaries of the newly created North East Development Commission (NEDC) failed on Wednesday in the Senate.

    This is coming as the upper chamber sought adequate financial provision for NEDC in 2018 budget

    A Bill seeking the establishment of a commission to spearhead the reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of peoples and infrastructure affected by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States were assented to last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Although the Senate had included Kano and Plateau States as part of States to be covered by the commission when set up the inclusion of the two states was later expunged at the conference level between the Senate committee and that of House of Representatives.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) in an attempt for the inclusion of the two states during future amendment of the NEDC Act, sought the approval of the Senate to pave the way for inclusion of the two States in any future amendments of the Act.

    Barau’s prayer seconded by Senator Jeremiah Useni (Plateau South) read: ” Whenever in future the NEDC Act is amended, Kano and Plateau states should be included “

    When Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu put the prayer to a voice vote, the senators overwhelmingly voted against it.

    Ekweremadu repeated the voice vote. The result was a resounding nay as the lawmakers stood their ground against any future inclusion of the two states as part of NEDC states.

    A motion on assent to the bill sponsored by Senator Danjuma Goje ( Gombe Central) and 15 others some senators asked for a similar commission for the development of their zones.

    Senator James Manager (Delta South) who commended President Buhari and the National Assembly for the NEDC Act urged the Senate to do likewise for the South East Development Commission Bill which according to him, has passed second reading.

    The manager noted that all the federal roads in the South East have collapsed aside disasters already inflicted in a substantial part of the area by gully erosion.

    He said that the situation needed urgent intervention from the centre in the mode of a development commission.

    He said: “We all supported the now signed NEDC Act when presented to us as a bill because of the need for it and in that light, I appealed to this Senate to give similar support to the South Development Commission Bill that is already before us and even passed second reading.

    “Am making this appeal because it’s been long when the said bill was passed for second reading without us hearing anything about it again. Please where ever the bill may be and whatever may be happening to it, let in the interest of fairness to all Nigerians bring it forward for the needed consideration and support.”

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) in his contribution said a bill for similar commission for the same purpose covering Niger, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina may soon be tabled before the Senate for consideration

    He lamented that not less than 5,000 people have lost their lives to violence being inflicted on the states by groups similar to Boko Haram like cattle rustlers and others within the last two years aside property and farms worth billions of Naira destroyed.

    Marafa said, “The blood thirty groups killed people in these States on daily basis and even recently attacked a military formation in Zamfara killing four soldiers. I support this motion commending Mr President for assenting to the NEDC Act and congratulates my colleagues from the North East zone on the commission but the Senate should not be surprised if a similar bill seeking for such development commission to cover the mentioned States is brought for consideration.

    “Those of us from the affected States have been keeping quiet but the rate at which violent attacks from the groups are causing severe destruction in  the states, a bill for a commission like this   may be brought for consideration and support of all.”

    Meanwhile, the Senate has asked the Federal Government to make adequate financial provision in the 2018 budget for the take-off of the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

     The upper chamber also affirmed its commitment to the implementation of the NEDC Act following the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari on 26th October 2017, to the NEDC Bill as passed by the National Assembly.

    The lawmakers noted that signing of the Bill into law marks the establishment and take-off of the North-East Development Commission.

    Commenting on a motion raised at the plenary in the Senate, Wednesday, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the signing into law of the NEDC Bill “marks a significant development in our country’s humanitarian and development response to the crisis in the North-East region.”

    Through the establishment of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), resources from the Federal Government and international donors will be coordinated and disbursed to meet the relief, recovery and developmental needs for a region in desperate need of stability.

    The President of the Senate decried the devastating impact of the conflict on the public infrastructure and on the lives of millions of Nigerians in the North-East. “According to the Borno State Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, in Borno State alone, over 950,000 houses, approximately 660 municipal buildings, and around 700 power distribution stations were destroyed during the insurgency.” Another “over 5,000 schools, 200 health facilities and 1,600 water supply sources were also razed.

    “With such dire statistics, it is vital for the NEDC to coordinate the planning of federal and state authorities to begin the work of transitioning from humanitarian response to recovery activities. These programmes must also include support to revive the livelihoods of the local populations.”

    The President of the Senate expressed confidence that standing up for the NEDC will go a long way towards augmenting civilian-military relations. “The military has greatly improved the security situation in the region and has created an enabling environment for stability and growing rehabilitation,” he said.

    “We must all keep in mind that the creation of funding of the NEDC alone will not resolve all of the issues in the North-East. However, it must build and represent a better level of governance than what existed before.”

    He thanked the Senators from the North-East states who sponsored the motion, saying: “They honourably represent the thousands of communities and millions of people whose properties have been destroyed and whose lives have been disrupted” as a result of the crisis. “We can never forget the terrible price these Nigerians have paid just to live in their homeland.”

    Affirming commitment to defend, protect and rehabilitate all territory and people within Nigeria’s national borders, the Senate also called on Donor Agencies’ to continue their support for the North-East through the newly established Commission.

  • NEDC: A promise delivered

    Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men- Mahatma Gandhi

    On Wednesday, October 25, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Bill for an Act that established the North East Development Commission into law.

    This is coming more than two years after the idea of establishing the commission was mooted and developed into a Bill by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

    The Speaker had, while receiving members of Yobe State caucus in the House of Representatives who paid him a solidarity visit few days after his historic election in June 2015 told his colleagues that urgent steps must be taken to rebuild the North-east which has suffered unprecedented level of devastation occasioned by years of violent insurgency. This, he added, may take the form of a commission similar to that of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    It was his belief that ad hoc measures by the government such as administrative policies lack the strength to stand the test of time, a quality needed to yield the desired result of rebuilding the ruins of the region, given the probability of cancelling such interventions at will.

    He pointed out that there are many organisations and well spirited individuals from across the world ready and willing to donate funds to rebuild the North-east but are very cautious and wary of how the monies will be utilised in the absence of an established institution by the government.

    To match words with action, in August 2015, he sponsored a motion on the urgent need for the rehabilitation, reconstruction, rebuilding and resettlement of the North-east, in addition to his constant advocacy for the convocation of an international donor conference for the region as done for Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and lately, Syria.

    As expected and rightly so, questions were raised on whether this proposed commission will not go the way of the NDDC, with regards to misappropriation of funds and alleged failure to deliver on their mandate, but Hon Dogara appealed to his colleagues and senators alike and assured them that they will learn from and avoid the problems of the NDDC.

    It is worth noting here that the commission has the mandate to receive and manage funds allocated by the federal government and international donor agencies for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency.

    This body would also help in tackling the menace of poverty and environmental challenges in the North-east and would among other things coordinate projects and programmes within the master plan for the rehabilitation, resettlement, reconciliation, reconstruction and sustainable development of the zone.

    This will be done in the field of infrastructure, human and social services, including health and nutrition, education and water supply, agriculture, wealth creation and employment opportunities, urban and rural development and poverty alleviation.

    As provided in the Act, the commission will also liaise with federal ministries, departments, agencies, states and development partners on implementation of all measures approved in the master plan for stabilisation and development of the North-east by the federal government.

    It will equally assess and report on any project being funded or carried out by any federal ministry, department and agency or company that has an agreement with the federal government, and ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilised.

    The NEDC will equally liaise with other stakeholders on tackling of humanitarian, ecological and environmental problems and degradation that arise from natural causes, insurgency and industrial activities in the zone. This is in addition to seeking humanitarian, human, material, technical and financial support from development partners, local or international, and non-governmental organisations. One other key role of the commission is  to act as the focal point to coordinate and harmonise all other interventions programmes and initiatives that the federal government is involved with in the North-east.

    The Speaker had on Thursday October 26,  just a day after the bill was signed into law by the president, while in the company of the visiting  Shehu of Bama,  His Royal Highness, Alhaji Shehu Kyari Umar Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi, who led a delegation of elders from the emirate on “thank you” visit to him, cautioned against mismanagement of the NEDC and abuse of the trust given to them by Nigerians who supported its establishment through their lawmakers in the National Assembly.

    He contended that in the midst of doubts, North-easterners should be given the chance to prove themselves; the freedom and opportunity to rebuild their region against the perceived failure of others.

    I must admit that for a long time, I have not seen the Speaker in such a happy mood as when he received communication from the president informing him that the bill has been assented to.  Within few minutes of receiving the good news, he extended his gratitude to the president and added that the expeditious coming into force of the commission will remedy the long years of underdevelopment suffered by the region, though the recovery and redevelopment of the zone devastated by terrorism is expected to last decades.

    According to Dogara, “As true leaders and representatives of the zone, our true focus has been what we can do in order to ensure that we build on the successes that this government is recording in its fight against terrorism and ultimately to ensure that we do not have a relapse in that zone with this kind of situation we have found ourselves. The region is behind in all human development indices and businesses, factories, schools have been destroyed. I think as we speak, perhaps the only productive enterprise that we have in the North-east is Ashaka Cement.”

    Worth commending here is the role played by the wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, who in April 2016, led a delegation of wives of governors from the region to attend the public hearing and even made submissions to the committee in support of the efforts of the Speaker.

    There is no family in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa that did not lose at least one relation to the seven years of intense violence and killings. People who were hitherto very wealthy became paupers following the destruction of their properties by the insurgents. It is estimated that about 200,000 people were killed since the beginning of the violence while property worth over $20 billion have been destroyed including schools, hospitals, markets, farmlands, churches and mosque alike.

    Today, the story has changed as most of them have gone back and more are hoping to return home soon, thanks to the effort of the security agencies under President Buhari.

    By appending his signature on that beautiful and unprecedented piece of legislation, President Buhari has touched the hearts of all North-easterners.  He has soothed where it pains them most, further strengthening the bond between them and him, and by that singular act, he has written his name in their hearts, in the hearts of their children and of generations yet unborn. He has further tightened the umbilical cord that connects him with the region and its people who have always looked up to him for leadership.

    The responsibility now rests with the people to ensure that they don’t abuse or misuse this trust the president and all Nigerians have given as cautioned by the Speaker just as it also behoves on the president to ensure that he appoints only persons of proven integrity to lead the NEDC and   pioneer the work of rebuilding the region.

  • No region should pray to have NEDC, says Shettima

    No region should wish to experience what the northeast faced to necessitate the North-East Development Commission(NEDC) Bill signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has stated.

    He spoke in Lagos at the weekend during an interview with journalists from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Channels Television.

    According to him: “Having a Commission like the NEDC is a direct response to large scale devastation, which no geo-political zone should wish to experience.

    “If you look at the whole thing systematically, development commissions are largely set in place to fast track the recovery of huge economic losses.

    “Borno for instance was taking 50 years backward by the destructions of the Boko Haram.

    “What the NEDC will set out to do is to help us accelerate the recovery of this backwardness so that the State recovers earlier than it would have taken us to recover.”

    He appreciated Buhari for his commitment to the rehabilitation of the devastated region.

    “It is not something any section of the country should wish to experience.

    “I must confess that if Buhari wasn’t elected in 2015, only God knows what would have become of Borno and the rest of the northeast.

    “We have been on ground from 2011 to date, the difference between our present and the past in the northeast is no less than light and darkness.

    “Everyone in Nigeria is talking about the northeast today mainly because Buhari is passionate about the stability, recovery and prosperity of the northeast.

    “The President’s passion for the northeast is clearly understandable because this is a region that has lost thousands of its precious sons and daughters and suffered destructions of public and private infrastructure worth $9 billion.”

    He also praised the 8th National Assembly for passing the bill. According to him: “We will remain grateful to them. For Senators and Representatives from the northeast, as far as we are concerned, they have achieved 50 percent of what our people elected them to do by the passage and Presidential assent to the Bill establishing the NEDC.”

  • Ndume laments heightened humanitarian crisis in North East

    Ndume laments heightened humanitarian crisis in North East

    Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Saturday, described the humanitarian crisis in the North East region as one of the worst in the world.

    Ndume who spoke on the historic signing into law of North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that Act will no doubt address massive underdevelopment in the region.

    He added that the Act would go a long way assist stakeholders to rebuild area destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Ndume also revealed how he spearheaded the drafting of the bill and mobilised lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives from the North East to support the Bill.

    He said that when fully functional, NEDC will bridge the huge development gap in the Nort East region of the country.

    He noted that although his effort pushing the Bill may not be acknowledged by some vested interests, the records are there to prove that the commission was his brainchild.

    The signing of the Bill, he said, was timely to address the unhealthy situation in the North East.

    Ndume said: “I thank God and I feel excited. By signing the bill, the President made my day. I am really happy. This is a milestone in the history of my sojourn in the National Assembly. This is the first bill I initiated that got the support of all my colleagues. It was co-sponsored by my colleagues from the North East.

    “The humanitarian crisis in the North East is enormous. I feel accomplished. We have done something that will help our people.

    “Niger Delta case is different. The challenge was that of environmental degradation. It was a case of negligence. It was a case of addressing those challenges. The case of NEDC is different. We did not want this naturally. Disaster happened and we needed help. It was because of the disaster that I sponsored the bill.

    “The North East is one of the poorest regions on earth. With this coming of NEDC, the issues will be addressed. North East Development Commission has come into existence with the signing of the bill into law. How it will be funded is a different thing.

    “The problem the Presidential Initiative on North East had was that it was not an institution. But the NEDC is a creation of the law. This will not be managed by one man. The agency will be well structured. This institution is set up to address humanitarian crisis. It cannot compromise. It is very sensitive.”

    On the role he played to push the Bill Ndume said: “I did not coordinate the Bill to be appreciated. But I am not bothered. The records are there. Nobody can change that. I spearheaded it. I convened the caucus of North East of both chambers. I was the first person to do that. You know the role I played. The whole country knows. If one person decides to ignore my role, God knows and Nigerians know.”

  • ‘Appoint credible hands to run NEDC’

    The Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan (APC Yobe North), has urged the Federal Government to appoint credible and competent persons to manage the NEDC.

    Lawan told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the commission needed patriotic and competent hands, committed to the people, to justify its establishment.

    He said the presidential assent to the bill provided a legal framework to a body, which will coordinate and facilitate rehabilitation of the zone.

    According to him, the commission will ensure proper channelling of resources provided by the Federal Government, and other international bodies, into the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Northeast.

    “International bodies, such as the World Bank, and others, will feel comfortable to provide resources because there is a body, established by law, to coordinate the reconstruction process,” he noted.

  • Egbin Power owners eye 2670MW

    Egbin Power owners eye 2670MW

    • Gas supply shortfall cuts generation to 600MW

    The new owners of Egbin Electric Power Plc and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC), the Sahara Group and its technical partner, Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) are planning to increase power generation from the power plant to 2,670 megawatts (MW) from the installed capacity of 1320MW.

    The Managing Director, Korea Electric Power Nigeria Limited, Yeom Gyoo Chull, told reporters during a facility tour of the plant that with the handover of the asset to the private sector, the management has been discussing on transformation of the plant and the workers.

    He said the strategy is to restore Egbin to its fully built capacity of 1320MW within the year and build more turbines that will provide additional 1,350MW.

    He said the additional capacity will commence in the next three years and on completion, will bring the combined output to 2,670MW. He noted that their target is to achieve a total capacity of over 10,000MW in the next decade if the demand permits.

    He said: “I represent the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and we are proud to be involved in the power reforms through a Joint Venture between Korean Electric Power Corporation and Energy Resource Limited – managers of the Egbin Power station and New Electricity Distribution Company (NEDC) – managers of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) both members of the Sahara Group.

    “We intend to collaborate with our partners in Nigeria to initially restore Egbin to its fully built capacity of 1320MW within the year and provide additional projected capacity of 1,350MW commencing within the next three years, thus at completion we’ll have 2,670MW, with the aim of achieving a total capacity of over 10000MW in the next decade if the demand permits

    “Kepco is among the largest nuclear power exporting companies and is also involved in every form of generation from wind, thermal, coal, solar, mass, hydro and renewable energy.”

    The Managing Director of Egbin Electric Power Plc, Mike Uzoigwe, said the new company has taken off. “We are quickly retooling ourselves to be business-like. There are business plans that are being discussed at the board level, how we are going forward, a lot of investment coming up, a lot of capacity improvement in the pipeline, a lot of overhaul and repair works and things that we found out that made us not to be our best in the past,” he said.

    He said the board meets more regularly to achieve the planned robust transformation. “The board sometimes meets two times in a month; ordinarily, it doesn’t have to meet that often, but because of what we are coming into the system with, the board has to meet regularly. He said Egbin has the capacity to generate 1080MW, but gas supply constraint has limited output from the plant to just over 600MW.