Worried by the crisis and poverty that has devastated the North-East region following years of insurgency that has engulfed the region, Bauchi State Government has expressed its readiness to join hands with critical stakeholders to rescue the situation.
This was disclosed by the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed when he received in audience, Management of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) which paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Bauchi on Friday.
Bala Mohammed further pledged his administration’s resolve to work with the Commission in view of the challenges negatively affecting critical sectors of the state’s economy for the advancement of the state.
He attributed the high rate of out-of-school children and poverty in the state to the accommodation of a large number of IDPs who have been already integrated into society.
The Governor pleaded with the management of the Commission to consider Bauchi State in the allocation of resources in view of the determination of his administration towards accommodating those affected by the insurgency.
Bala Mohammed expressed confidence that with the establishment of the North East Development Commission, the challenges militating against the progress of the zone would be addressed.
Earlier, Chairman of the North-East Development Commission, Major General Paul Tarfa (retired), explained that the Commission has been mandated to manage funds allocated to the states affected by insurgency for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and construction of roads and houses of the victims.
Others according to him, is to tackle the menace of poverty, illiteracy, ecological problems and any other environmental or developmental challenges in the North-East.
The Chairman who described Bauchi state as a critical stakeholder in the region currently hosting a lot of IDPs in the host communities said that the Commission would work with the state government by keying into its laudable projects of economic development and empowerment.
He said the Commission would establish state offices in Bauchi and other states of the region for effective implementation of the Commission’s master plan.
Meanwhile, the mass Influx of IDPs and the destruction of public infrastructure have been identified as some of the negative impact of insurgency in Bauchi State.
Bauchi State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr Aminu Hassan Gamawa announced this while presenting a paper on Strategies for Reconstruction and Economic Development in Bauchi State to the management of the North-East Development Commission held at the Government House, Bauchi.
Dr Aminu Gamawa attributed the increasing number of malnourished children, unemployment and lack of investment opportunities to the negative impact of the insurgency in the state.
He listed others as restriction of access to social services and assured of the political will of the present administration in the state to support the Commission to overcome the challenges facing the Northeast.
According to him, strategies for reconstruction required mapping of the damages of the socio-economic and infrastructure facilities in the affected states and the provision of unconditional cash transfer to all IDPs in addition to their training in all categories of trades and vocational skills.
Others he said are the construction of additional clinics, dispensaries, provision of water and sanitation facilities as well as the continued dialogue on social integration.
The Commissioner also said that strengthening of the internal revenue-generating system, supporting IDPs and host communities in agriculture and providing enabling environment for development partners are some of the key strategies for reconstruction of the Northeast.
Dr Aminu Gamawa informed the management of the Commission that the state has over 55 ethnic groups with a total land area of 49, 259.01 square kilometres.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali in his remarks pledged to work with the state government for effective management of resources allocated to the commission.
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