The Federal Government on Tuesday lauded the North East Development Commission (NEDC’s) efforts on investments in the area of infrastructural development in rural communities of Borno.
Mr Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Regional Development, told newsmen shortly after a three-day working visit to NEDC’s headquarters in Maiduguri.
Momoh, who inspected the 45km road network being constructed by the NEDC cut across Ngowom-Koshobe-Zabarmari-Gongulong-Kaddamari and other agrarian communities of Jere-Bowl, expressed satisfaction with the work so far.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mafa and Jere Local Government Areas of Borno are currently producing over three million tonnes of rice during dry and rainy seasons combined annually.
However, the minister said that the phase I of the 23km Jere-Bowl Road network, when completed would improve farming activities and propel economic growth in the whole North-eastern region.
“From what we have seen there, these roads passed through major economic hubs of Maiduguri- Jere-Bowl, where you have a lot of farming activities taking place.
“And with the network of roads connecting various villages, you will agree with that the agricultural activities of that place will further be increase because access roads are there now to carry out whatever they have cultivated to neighboursing markets and the rest of them,” he said.
Momoh also expressed optimism that the Roads infrastructure connecting seven farming communities would enhance the livelihoods of rural dwellers, improve security and attract more agricultural productivity.
“I want to say in clear terms that we have seen for ourselves. Starting from the network Roads from Ngowom to Koshobe, to Zabarmari to Dusman to all those of network roads of about 45km.
“Opening up various communities, not less than seven communities that hitherto never had road before.
“The joy in the faces of the locals makes me feel very happy because for the very first time they are seen road.
“These are not Roads destroyed by the activities of the insurgents, these are fresh roads being constructed with a view to making life meaningful for the people of that area,” the minister said.
Momoh said that the roads were expected to be completed within a year.
“I can say with reasonable authority without asking the Managing Director of NEDC that in a matter not more than a year, all these projects will be inaugurated,” the minister said.
The 22.5 Km Ngowom – Koshebe and Ngowom – Dusman – Zabarmari – Gongulong – Khaddarmari Road among others for urgent construction due to the area’s vital role in rice production.
The II phase has three segments of
10.5 Km (Galameri)Ngowom – Koshebe
3.5 Km Ngowom – Dusman
8.5Km Gongulon-ZabarmariKhaddamari, he said.
According to him, in one of the community visited, Momoh discovered that majority of the people there are not necessarily Borno natives, but they are people from different communities across the country leaving in that area because of the farming activities.
“I think, this is all what the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu is all about.
“That is to promote the economic activities of the rural communities. I think, with what is happening there today, the people actually demonstrated that what Mr President has done for them will remain permanently in them.
“And that geos to the saying that to whom much is given, much is expected. I have no doubt that by 2027, the whole of those people and other people in the state have no doubt would cast in their votes 100 per cent for Mr President.
“Apart from the Jere-Bowl project, we have also seen a whole community established by North East Development Commission where of course all the people who were displaced before, and some of them that were in the IDP camps were now settled.
“So 1,000 housing units, you know is a very large number, that had formed a major community in that place. (NAN)
