By Kassim Omomia
Two critical institutions, the Presidency under President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Northeast Development Commission, NEDC, have incurred the wrath of the governors of the Northeast for their lackluster attitude in improving developmental projects in the region.

The zone which is heavily devastated by the growing menace of insurgency is at a loss over why projects like power and other sundry interventionist concerns handled by the Northeast Development Commission, NEDC, and in the case of the Mabilla hydroelectric power project, by President Buhari, are left uncared leading to additional sufferings of the people.

The zone’s political leaders comprising of the five governors under the umbrella of the Northeast Governors forum have opened up after a meeting held in Jalingo, Taraba state, about the challenges facing the sub-region, expressing disappointment on president Buhari over the shoddy manner the Mabille hydroelectricity project has been handled

In a communique issued and signed by the chairman of the forum and executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the governors, expressed disappointment over several contractual impediments surrounding the Mabilla Hydroelectric Power Project, which have stalled its take-off and realization.

According to the governors, it is needless to state how important the Mambila project is to the country and the people of the Northeast region, and therefore, challenged President Buhari to be serious with the project by establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to address the encumbrances and bring the project to reality.

‘’The Forum deliberated extensively on the presentation on the Mabilla Hydroelectric Power Project and noted with dismay, that the project as important as it is, to Nigeria and the North-East sub-region, is surrounded by a lot of contractual encumbrances which have stalled its take-off and realization. The Forum, therefore, calls on the President to accord the project the desired seriousness by establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to address the encumbrances and bring the project to reality’’.

Similarly, they faulted the slow pace of work of most projects carried out by the Northeast Development Commission, NEDC, as an interventionist’s agency, in addition to the non-alignment of priority projects with the aspirations of the governors of the zone and therefore warned the commission to henceforth liaise with various state governments within the region on priorities for intervention, location of projects and the development of the much talked about Northeast masterplan.

Gov Zulum lays foundation stone for reconstruction and upgrading of Bauchi govt House

‘’While noting the activities of the NEDC as an intervention agency in the region, the Forum expressed deep concern that the level of consultation between the Commission and the various State Governments within the region on project priorities and locations is low and the speed of work on those projects already in place within the region, is slow. The Forum, therefore, calls on the Commission to consult the various State Governments within the region on priorities for intervention, location of projects, and the development of the North East Masterplan. It equally calls for expedited action to complete the existing projects in the region’’.

Other areas dealt with by the forum, include its bid to reposition Education in the sub-region, in which it received a report from the North East Council on Education and accepted the Councils’ advisory on the improvement of quality and performance of students and teachers screening and training in the region.

It expressed enthusiasm in the general improvement of the Security situation in the region and calls for continuous collaboration of all the security agencies in the country to sustain the gains while condoling President Buhari, the Nigerian Army, and the families of the late Chief of Army Staff Major General Ibrahim Attahiru and the other officers who lost their lives while on duty, in addition to congratulating the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya on his appointment.

The communique further reads: ‘’The Forum calls on the diplomatic community, partners and donor agencies supporting the region to activate the process of transiting from humanitarian to stabilization and durable solution within the region. This will ensure sustainability and give people the opportunity to help themselves out of poverty. This will address the socio-economic dimension of insecurity in the region.

‘’The Forum also notes the negative impact of drug and narcotic substances in the region and the extent to which it fuels the insurgency and other forms of criminality in the region. It, therefore, calls for support in the area of stopping drug trafficking and enforcing narcotic control within the region and across the borders.

‘’The Forum notes the good work of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria (REAN) and resolved to support the agency to deliver on its mandate within the region. It, however, calls on the agency to intensify working with designated Focal Persons at the individual State level to ensure the justifiable spread of projects across the region.

‘’The Forum while interacting with the Commissioners of the Federal Character Commission, appreciated their effort at ensuring compliance with the Federal Character principle. It, however, expressed dismay over the shortfall in the number of applicants from the region in the recent recruitment into some Federal Agencies. The forum, therefore, resolved to follow up with all the concerned agencies to ensure that the region gets its fair share in the recruitments into the concerned agencies

NEDC to execute 35 projects in Taraba, says Kente

‘’The Forum notes the technical support on potentials for growth and development of the region especially the Agribusiness Programme using innovative financing model of the Adamawa State Government by the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP) and agreed that the research is extended to all the States of the region. Forum, therefore, directed the management of ARDP to immediately prepare and submit the project proposal to the NEGF Secretariat for onward transmission to the various States for implementation.

However, at the assembly were the Executive Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and the Yobe States, under the Chairmanship of the Governor of Borno State, Professor, Babagana Umara Zulum.

The next meeting of the Forum is expected to hold in Damaturu, Yobe State, on Saturday, 9th October 2021.