The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has said it would distribute 300,000 bags of 25kg rice; 200,000 cartons of Spaghetti/Macaroni; 100,000 cartons of vegetable oil and other items to 1,058 wards in the North-East.
Its Managing Director of NEDC, Mohammed Alkali disclosed this at a press conference on Friday in Abuja after the inauguration of the reconstituted board of the agency.
He stated: “The commission is releasing 300,000 of Rice (25kg Bags); 200,000 cartons of Spaghetti/Macaroni; 100,000 cartons of Vegetable Oil; Sugar 100,000 (25kg Bags); Branded Mats 100,000 Pieces, Branded Blankets 100,000 Pieces; Men Clothing (Shadda) 100,000 Pieces, Women Wrappers; 100,000 Pieces;Children Wears 100,000 Pieces.
“We want to also inform you that we have worked out a very robust strategy for how these things will be distributed. So that we will touch all the local governments in the North-East.
“We have 1,058 wards in the North-East. And as you all know, we have 48 rural constituencies in the North-East.”
Alkaki explained that the commission was providing the palliatives across the North-East to assist the federal government and also cushion the effect of the current harsh economic condition on vulnerable Nigerians.
Earlier, the Chairman of the board, Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd) said the commission
The chairman noted that the commission would also develop electronic vehicles to alleviate the challenges in transportation across the zone.
“We intend to embark on e-mobility programs by developing e-vehicles to alleviate the challenges in transportation across the zone. The details will be given in full after I have finished.”
The chairman was committed to completing all the projects it embarked on.
He stressed that the commission would focus on projects that will open up closed sectors, enhance socio-economic activities across markets and bolster security within the North-East and environs.
Tarfa added: “We want to inform you that we want to complete all projects that we embarked upon during the last board and what we are about to embark upon.
“We intend to complete all that is in progress and then to commence with immediate effect following this board meeting, the projects ahead of us.”
Tarfa added that the commission would also focus on projects that would generate direct and indirect employment opportunities in the zone.
He said: “So many are bored without work, so many are hungry, so many need to be employed. The opportunities must be created and that is what we are out to do.
“We want to embark on projects and programs that will have multiple impacts on the lives of the people in the zone, which are expected in due course.”