NEDC set to deploy 50MW mini-grid, N200bn e-banking project

The Managing Director of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Goni, disclosed that the Commission has crossed the N1.5 trillion mark in executed, ongoing and upcoming projects.

Goni, who disclosed this in Abuja while declaring open the 2026 ISO Executive Retreat holding from 28–30 September, 2026, explained that the training was organised for senior management staff to strengthen leadership ownership of the Commission’s Integrated Management System and its application to programme delivery.

While noting that the figure is evidence-based and not based on what he described as “imperial declarations” or assumptions,

He stated: “The current value of delivered physical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, stands at about N800 billion, while the addition of projects to be unveiled in the coming days will push the total portfolio to about N1.5 trillion. I just noticed that we have already crossed the N1.5 trillion path. It is an ongoing and upcoming projects.

“As of today, projects for roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure were at about N800 billion, and by the time we add what we are having now in the next few days, we will be in the range of N1.5 trillion projects. I don’t think any other state government can boast of this kind of level of activities,” he stated.

Goni explained that the e-banking project, which is scheduled for commissioning in the next few weeks will cost about N200 billion.

He further disclosed that the second major project is the deployment of 50 megawatts mini-grid, which he described as unprecedented at sub-national level.

Goni added: “At the last board meeting, we made a very big pronouncement on deployment of mini-grids — 50 megawatts. It is a big one. I don’t think any state or any region has that kind of localized energy infrastructure.

“The e-banking will consume about N200 billion, the mini-grid will also consume something very close to that,” he said.

Asked why the commission was holding another retreat in Abuja after the Maiduguri Excellence Forum retreat, Goni explained that the two events were part of the same institutional improvement process.

According to him, Maiduguri focused on practical application among staff at Levels 6–13. Abuja brings senior management together to focus on leadership ownership, accountability, governance and sustainable programme delivery.

The NEDC helmsman stressed that the management training programme combined learning with practical problem-solving using real institutional and programme-delivery issues.

Recall that the Commission recently secured certification to five management system standards covering quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety, anti-bribery management and sustainable development in communities.

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While describing the certifications as a significant milestone, the Commission said the priority now is to ensure that the standards become firmly embedded in its leadership processes, organisational culture, risk management and implementation of development programmes.

According to him, while the Master Plan identifies key development priorities, effective management systems provide the framework for planning, coordination, accountability, risk management, performance monitoring and continuous improvement.

In her remarks, Acting Head of the Governance and Compliance Service Reforms Unit, Fatima Dalhatu, said the retreat was designed to shift the focus from merely understanding ISO standards to taking ownership of their implementation.

Dalhatu explained that ISO standards should not be viewed as a separate requirement but as a framework for strengthening service delivery and advancing the objectives contained in the North-East Master Plan.

She stressed the importance of senior management ownership, noting that although the Governance and Compliance Service is responsible for coordinating the management systems, senior managers must ensure that the standards are effectively implemented within their respective areas of responsibility.