To implement the eleven pillars of the ten-year North-East Stabilization and Development Master Plan,( NESDMP) the Federal Government said about 80 billion dollars (31.05 trillion naira) would be required.
The government however noted that such a colossal amount of money would not hinder its resolve and commitment to restore peace, stability and prosperity to the region.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Boss Mustapha who made the remarks said President Muhammadu Buhari was unwavering in his resolve to change the narratives of the North East following the devastation of the region by insurgent activities.
Speaking at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, at the Validation Meeting of the North-East Stabilization and Development Master Plan, Mustapha described the MasterPlan as ” a holistic roadmap for recovery, stabilization, expansion, and long-term socio-economic development of the Northeast region.”
He said at the event which was attended by Governors Babagana Zullum of Borno state and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe as well as representatives of the Governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Yobe and Taraba, that the region is now witnessing improved security and gradually returning to sustainable peace and stability.
“While congratulating the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development, and the Board and Management of NEDC for producing the NESDMP, I urge you to commence the earnest implementation of the Master Plan soon after its approval with due diligence, dedication, and dexterity through the deployment of all appropriate monitoring, evaluation and coordination competencies tools “, the SGF said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the NEDC, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali said to arrive at the validation point, the Commission in addition to baseline studies, “conducted across the Zone, consultations and engagements on the Master Plan were held at Grassroots level in all the 112 LGAs in the Zone, as well as with Humanitarian, Development and Peacebuilding (HDP) Actors, CSOs/CBOs and the Private Sector at the Regional Level, Federal Legislators from the North-East, Federal MDAs, the Military, Police, Security Agencies amongst others.”
The validation event we are witnessing today signifies the endpoint of production of the NESDMP, a document culminating from baseline studies and robust engagements with all critical Stakeholders, Alhaji Alkali added.
Alkali explained that the substantial amount of the 31.05 trillion naira that would be spent on the recovery processes in the region would come from the Private Sector.
According to him the proposed 10-Year NESDMP also encapsulates relevant aspects of President Buhari Plan, Development Plans of the Member States, Sectoral Development Plans and Roadmaps of Federal MDAs, and align with Projects being executed by Development Partners in the Northeast Zone.
He said the Master Plan contains Enterprise Values, Vision, Mission, and Strategic Objectives of NEDC as well as Strategic Vision and Direction for the North-East Region.
“It runs from 2020 to 2030 in four implementation phases; Recovery & Stabilization (2020 – 2021), Renewal (2022 – 2023), Expansion (2024 – 2025) and Sustainable Growth (2026 – 2030)”, Alkali said.
The NEDC boss noted that the eleven Pillars captured Peaceful Society, Leadership in Agriculture, Healthy Citizens, and Educated Populace.
Others are Flourishing Trade, Productive Entrepreneurs, Purposeful Infrastructure, Industrialization, Memorable Experience, Protected Environment and Connected Region
Alkali who commended President Buhari, the SGF, the Minister supervising the Commission, the Chairman of the Board of the Commission, Major Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd) the UNICEF, World Bank and other development partners said in all the Master Plan contains over 500 schemes, programmes and projects.
