REBUILDING THE NORTH EAST ZONE

Turaki A. Hassan cautions against mismanagement of the North East Development Commission

THIS BODY WOULD 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 NORTH EAST ZONE

Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men- Mahatma Gandhi On Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 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 just few days after his historic election in June 2015, told his colleagues that urgent steps must be taken to begin the work of rebuilding the North East region which has suffered unprecedented 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 has always been his belief that ad hoc measures by the government such as administrative policies lack the strength to stand the test of time.

Similarly, he pointed out that there are many organisations and well spirited individuals from across the world which are 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, questions were raised on whether this proposed commission will not go the way of the NDDC, with regard 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 North East 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 in the Northeast 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 Northeast. This is in addition to seeking humanitarian, human, material, technical and financial support from development partners, local or international, and nongovernmental organisations, with a view to developing the Northeast region.

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 Northeast.

The speaker had on Thursday, October 26, 2017, 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, Northeasterners should be given the chance to prove themselves; the freedom and opportunity to rebuild their region against the perceived failure of others.

The speaker evidently was in such a happy mood when he received communication from the president informing him that the bill has been assented to. Within few minutes of receiving the 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 development 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. 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 May 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 eight years of intense violence and killings. People who were hitherto very wealthy became paupers in just a matter of hours 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 properties worth over $20 billion have been destroyed including schools, hospitals, markets, farmlands, churches and mosques.

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 Northeasterners. He has soothed where it pained 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.