Abayomi Susan
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has announced plans to establish a regional airline as part of efforts to improve connectivity and accelerate development across the North-East region.
The Commission also disclosed that it requires about ₦100 billion to enhance electricity supply and improve power infrastructure in the region.
Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja, explaining that the initiatives align with the Federal Government’s development agenda and the mandate for which the Commission was established.
According to Alkali, the funding for the power project would be sourced through counterpart financing, adding that the proposed airline would help ease transportation challenges and improve movement within the region.
He also highlighted the progress of the ₦30 billion NEDC–Bank of Industry (BOI) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Fund, designed to provide accessible financing, business support services and capacity-building opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly youths and women.
The Managing Director said the fund is expected to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen local industries, create jobs and support inclusive economic growth across the North-East.
On healthcare development, Alkali described improved medical services as a key component of the Commission’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life of residents in the region.
He said that in line with the Healthy Citizenry pillar of the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan (NESDMP) and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Commission had invested in healthcare infrastructure, specialist medical services and sustainable health systems.
He identified the procurement of eight state-of-the-art 1.5 Tesla Helium-Free MRI machines as one of NEDC’s major healthcare interventions, with the equipment expected to be deployed across the six states of the North-East.
He added that the Commission was also acquiring CT scan machines, digital X-ray systems, mammography equipment, dialysis machines and other advanced diagnostic technologies to improve access to specialised healthcare and reduce the need for medical referrals outside the region.
To ensure sustainability, Alkali said NEDC had established dedicated MRI facilities, provided alternative power solutions, secured five-year maintenance agreements with equipment manufacturers and commenced specialised training for radiologists, biomedical engineers and other technical personnel.
He further revealed that the Commission was upgrading the Borno Eye Hospital into a modern ophthalmic centre and establishing a fully equipped Fertility Centre at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) to expand access to advanced medical services.
Alkali warned contractors handling NEDC projects that substandard work would not be accepted or paid for, stressing the Commission’s commitment to delivering quality infrastructure across the region.
