The Humanitarian Times

By Abdulkareem Haruna

Maiduguri, Borno State – The Federal Minister of Regional Development, Engineer Abubakar Momoh, currently on a working visit to Borno State, had on Monday reiterated the federal government’s commitment to the region’s recovery and development, urging international partners to maintain their post-flood support.

The Minister’s remarks came during a courtesy call on the Borno State Deputy Governor, Usman Umar Kadafur, following an earlier visit to the Shehu of Borno’s palace.
During his engagement with Deputy Governor Kadafur, the Minister emphasized Borno State’s burgeoning potential as a haven for investment, attributing this to the remarkable strides achieved in restoring peace across the region.

He commended the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who was the state’s former governor, for laying a robust foundation for the rebuilding efforts in post-insurgency Borno, signaling a renewed federal focus on the state’s economic and social revitalization.

“Borno is a haven for investment because of the level of peace achieved,”  the Minister stated, encouraging continued collaboration from development partners. He underscored the need for sustained assistance in the wake of recent floods that have impacted communities across the state, adding to the existing challenges from the decade-long insurgency.

Deputy Governor Usman Umar Kadafur, while welcoming the Minister on behalf of Governor Babagana Zulum, expressed profound appreciation for the federal government’s foresight in establishing the Ministry of Regional Development. He lauded the North East Development Commission (NEDC), led by Managing Director Goni Alkali, for its “up and doing” efforts in addressing both human development and infrastructure deficits within the state.

“The NEDC has been supporting us in our development challenges. We are always at their doors and they are always responding to us,” Deputy Governor Kadafur affirmed, highlighting the commission’s pervasive impact. He cited massive support in human development, particularly in managing the reintegration of surrendered insurgents through the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DDRR) program under ‘Operation Safe Corridor,’  which includes the provision of food and recovery items.

The Deputy Governor further noted the NEDC’s crucial role in bolstering security efforts and in the resettlement of displaced persons, with thousands of homes constructed for returning populations.

“NEDC is like PTF, anywhere you go you see NEDC which has become a household name for us,” Kadafur remarked, drawing a parallel to the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund, a testament to the commission’s visible and widespread interventions.

The Minister’s visit, which began with a courtesy call to the revered Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Garbai Al-amin Elkanemi, saw similar discussions on the federal government’s commitment to the state’s recovery. The Shehu had also acknowledged the significant contributions of the NEDC under Dr. Alkali’s leadership.

The visiting Minister of Regional Development is scheduled to continue his tour today, Tuesday, July 8, by inspecting critical projects undertaken by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) across Maiduguri, Jere, and Konduga Local Government Areas of Borno State.