BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has commended the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for demonstrating focus, clarity of vision, resilience, and a strong commitment to results despite distractions arising from vested interests, political pressures, and unfounded rumours.
The Governor gave the commendation yesterday while receiving a delegation from the NEDC led by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, alongside the management of the Commission, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Bauchi.
Governor Bala Mohammed praised the NEDC management team for their hard work and professionalism, noting that the impact of the Commission’s interventions is visible and meaningful across Bauchi State and the wider North East region.
According to him, NEDC projects have positively touched lives in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, humanitarian support, disaster management, and infrastructure, significantly improving the living conditions of the people.
Reflecting on the region's journey, the Governor spoke on the shared sacrifices of the North East and the collective responsibility to build a more resilient and prosperous region.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Commission for its sustained interventions, describing the visit as a demonstration of dedication, professionalism, and collective commitment to the NEDC’s mandate.
Governor Bala Mohammed stated that the projects being commissioned and handed over align perfectly with the development agenda of both the Bauchi State Government and the Federal Government.
He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to strengthening social services, expanding access to quality education and healthcare, and ensuring that vulnerable populations receive adequate support.
He noted that NEDC interventions have complemented state efforts and accelerated progress in critical sectors, leading to overall improvement in the quality of life in the state and the region.
The Governor further explained that Bauchi State has taken deliberate institutional steps to enhance collaboration with the Federal Government and its agencies by establishing key ministries including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Ministry of Internal Security, Ministry of Higher Education and Regional Integration, and the Ministry for Livestock Development. These institutions, he said, were created to ensure synergy, effective coordination, and maximum impact of federal interventions beyond politics and partisan considerations.
He directed all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to actively participate in the commissioning and handover of NEDC projects and to take full ownership of the facilities, stressing that sustainability, effective programme management, and quality service delivery remain top priorities of his administration.
Governor Bala Mohammed explained that although Bauchi State was not a theatre of war during the Boko Haram insurgency, the state played a critical supportive role by receiving displaced persons due to its strong social, cultural, and historical ties with the North East.
He said the state adopted a community integration model rather than large IDP camps, which strengthened social cohesion but also placed pressure on health, education, and social infrastructure.
He noted that the population influx significantly increased demographic pressure, underscoring the need for sustained partnership with the NEDC and other federal institutions to maintain stability, promote recovery, and sustain development in the region.
The Governor reaffirmed Bauchi State’s commitment to providing leadership that will help stabilise the NEDC and deepen regional cooperation, adding that the state remains an important hub for development and good governance.
Highlighting specific achievements, Governor Bala Mohammed acknowledged the NEDC’s intervention in previously inaccessible areas such as Futuj and the Kolmani axis, where the Commission constructed about five bridges on a long-abandoned federal government project, thereby improving connectivity.
He further revealed that his administration has constructed about 3,000 kilometres of roads across Bauchi State and has proposed an additional 1,000 kilometres to boost connectivity and economic activities. He assured the Federal Government that all projects implemented in the state would be properly utilised for their intended purposes and appealed to the NEDC to sustain its humanitarian interventions, especially in vulnerable and underserved communities.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, said the delegation was in Bauchi to inspect, supervise, and commission completed and ongoing NEDC projects across the state.
He explained that the projects span key sectors including education, health, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, and markets, all aimed at improving the welfare and living standards of the people of Bauchi State.
Alhaji Uba Maigari noted that the delegation comprised officials from relevant ministries, members of the National Assembly, the NEDC Board, and senior management staff responsible for policy direction, funding oversight, and day-to-day administration of the Commission.
He commended Governor Bala Mohammed for what he described as transformative projects that are positively changing the landscape of Bauchi State.
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