- VP Shettima launches the NEDC’s distribution of N15 billion worth of palliatives, including 250,000 bags of rice, in six northeastern states
- Shettima praises the unity of northeast governors in addressing common challenges and urges legislators to follow suit
Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched the North East Development Commission’s (NEDC) distribution of 250,000 bags of rice and other palliatives worth N15 billion to six states in the region.
Shettima said the northeast governors’ unity is worthy of emulation by their colleagues in other subregions as he flagged off the distribution and groundbreaking for the construction of the 22.5km Ngowom road in Borno State.
Shettima stated that the northeast governors had set aside their political differences to pursue the common goal of their people, and he urged the region’s legislators to do the same.
What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us, we are one people, of common destiny, faced with the same challenges, he said.
Shettima noted that the road construction is a milestone project that would give people in the area an opportunity to open up the potentials of Borno and, by extension, the northeast.
We want to thank the people of NEDC for this giant stride and we urge them to extend that gesture to some of our vital areas, especially Bauchi, Gombe road, the major road that linked Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, and Taraba.
And of course, the Jalingo-Yobe road is equally vital, We would have to get into discussion with the federal government because these are trunk A federal roads, but it’s being plight by the people from Northeast.
So, the issue of trunk A, Trunk B roads are mere nomenclature, it’s about our people, and we have to work out arrangements to help them,” he said.
The deplorable Gombe-Bauchi, Maiduguri-Damboa, Biu-Gombi federal roads are to be undertaken by NEDC this year,” he added noting that their completion could enhance security and the seamless haulage of goods and services in the region.
Speaking at the event, the Commission’s Managing Director, Mohammed G Alkali, stated that the palliatives would alleviate hunger and ensure food security in insurgency-affected states.
Other palliatives include 81,000 cartons of noodles, 80,000 bales of blankets, mats, and children’s wares, 40,000 women’s wrappers, men’s clothes, and gallons of cooking oil.