By Wulum Iliya, Bauchi
Bauchi State witnessed the completion of major projects by the North East Development Commission (NEDC), including the rehabilitation of the tomb of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and the commissioning of the Commission’s State Office and a Mega School.
The rehabilitation project, inspected by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, in the company of the NEDC Board and Management, covered extensive upgrades to the tomb, the attached museum, library, reception block, and separate public toilets for males and females.
The initiative aims to preserve the legacy of the late Prime Minister, who was assassinated in 1966, while promoting tourism, education, and public access to the historic site.
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammad Auwal Jatau, lauded NEDC for its interventions, noting that the Commission has consistently delivered projects that positively impact lives across the North-East geopolitical zone.
“There is no doubt that NEDC has, since its inception, lived up to its mandate as an agency charged with delivering meaningful interventions in our sub-region,” he said.
The Governor described the construction of the Mega School as a testament to the Commission’s commitment to providing quality education to children regardless of their socio-economic background.
He added, “Any society that neglects education does so to the detriment of its progress and development. Our government has since 2019 placed a high premium on educational development, embarking on massive rehabilitation and construction of educational infrastructure across the state.
”Governor Mohammed further highlighted the state’s institutional arrangements, including the establishment of ministries for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Internal Security & Home Affairs, and Higher Education & Regional Integration, to ensure effective collaboration with federal programmes such as those of NEDC.
He urged relevant government agencies and the people of Bauchi to leverage the newly established NEDC State Office to strengthen project coordination and service delivery.
Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, pledged that his ministry would work in close synergy with NEDC and other stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at deepening regional development, economic recovery, and stability across the North-East.
Earlier, NEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Goni Alkali, expressed gratitude to the Bauchi State Government for its continued support and partnership, assuring that the Commission remains committed to working with states to stabilize the North-East, promote economic recovery, and foster regional integration.
The completion of the Tafawa Balewa tomb rehabilitation, alongside the commissioning of the NEDC office and Mega School, marks another milestone in the region’s ongoing recovery and development, reinforcing the federal and state governments’ commitment to heritage preservation, education, and socio-economic growth.
