Minister, NEDC hands over multi-billion naira projects to Bauchi govt
By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
The Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmad, has commissioned over 10 projects executed by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and inspected other ongoing projects in Bauchi State, as part of efforts to boost socio-economic development in the region.
Rimawaglobalnews reports that the commissioning and inspection exercise, covered projects in key sectors including education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and market development.
All the completed projects were handed over to the Bauchi State Government and are aimed at improving the welfare and living standards of the people, in line with President Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Projects commissioned during the visit include the newly constructed NEDC State Office, a mega school complex along Jos Road, a Medical Emergency Complex at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), and a modern fire service station with a fire truck at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Gubi Campus.
Others are the renovation of Government Secondary School (GSS) Yelwan Duguri, two Primary Health Centres in Yashi and Shira, a renovated school in Maina Maji, an ultra-modern cattle market in Alkaleri Local Government Area, as well as the Kalajanga–Bara–Tashan Turmi bridges along the Bauchi–Gombe Road.
The minister also inspected ongoing projects at GSS Bauchi, which include two blocks of classrooms, an administration block and a laboratory, in addition to the ongoing construction of the Gombe Abba–Kirfi Road.
The projects, according to the minister, underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to rebuilding infrastructure, improving service delivery and driving inclusive development across the North East region
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad at the Council Chamber Government House, Bauchi, Minister Uba Magari said the projects earmarked for inspection and commissioning in the state were aimed at improving the quality of life of residents.
According to him, the NEDC projects span education, health infrastructure, markets, and other socio-economic facilities.
“We have already inspected and commissioned some projects, including a fire station and a fire truck located at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Gubi campus,” he said.
The minister added that the delegation also inspected the ongoing construction and relocation of the Government Secondary School, Bauchi, noting that the quality of work reflected the state government’s commitment to development.
Ahmad explained that the delegation included officials of the Ministry of Regional Development, members of the National Assembly, the NEDC Board and senior management staff of the Commission, who are responsible for policy formulation, funding oversight and day-to-day administration.
He commended the Bauchi State Government for what he described as “landmark achievements” in governance and development, assuring that the Federal Government, through the NEDC, would continue to support the state.
Responding, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad expressed appreciation to the NEDC for its sustained interventions in Bauchi State, describing them as a testament to partnership, solidarity, and shared responsibility.
He praised the minister for personally leading the delegation, saying it showed commitment beyond “armchair administration,” stressing further, “You have distinguished yourself, and so has the Managing Director of the NEDC, Muhammad Alkali, who has demonstrated dedication, professionalism and clarity of vision in delivering on the commission’s mandate,” the governor said.
Muhammad assured the commission that all NEDC projects in the state would be utilised strictly for their intended purposes, adding that relevant state agencies had been directed to fully participate in the handover processes and ensure sustainability.
He noted that the NEDC’s interventions had touched lives in critical areas such as education, health and humanitarian support, stressing that the commission was established to address challenges arising from Boko Haram insurgency and other security-related crises in the North-East.
The governor said Bauchi State had adopted a community integration model for internally displaced persons rather than establishing large IDP camps, a move he said strengthened social cohesion but also increased pressure on social infrastructure.
While commending the NEDC for constructing bridges and supporting road projects that have improved access to remote communities, Muhammad appealed for more interventions in road infrastructure.
“We still have hard-to-reach areas. Even with ongoing projects like the World Bank-supported rural access roads, it is not enough. We need more cross-cutting roads to reduce travel time between key towns,” he said.
The governor also called for additional support for technical colleges, housing projects, health facilities and the completion of ongoing educational infrastructure, stressing that such interventions would enhance economic recovery and development in the state and the wider North-East region.
“We acknowledge and sincerely thank you for your interventions, but like Oliver Twist, we will always ask for more,” Muhammad concluded
