Shettima asks north-east development commission to focus on ‘legacy projects’

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the restoration of total security in the north-east.

Shettima spoke on Wednesday when the board and management of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) presented the north-east stabilisation and development master plan (NESDMP) to him at the State House, Abuja.

He implored the commission to prioritise investments in legacy projects, including agriculture, education and smart transportation also referred to as electric transport vehicles and tricycles.

The vice-president also urged the commission to be prudent with its resources and invest in projects that would have a lasting impact on the region.

“I will ask the board and management of the (NEDC) to embark on legacy projects; projects that will stand the test of time,” NAN quoted Shettima as saying.

“It is absolutely essential that you invest in agriculture, invest in new transport technology – electric tricycles and vehicles. If you invest in smart transportation, it will have a sea change and you can even attract climate funding.”

On his part, Paul Tarfa, NEDC chairman, said the purpose of the visit and presentation of the master plan was to highlight the importance of the document and to ensure its implementation.

Also speaking, Mohammed Alkali, NEDC managing director, said the master plan is in fulfilment of section 8 (1) (c) of the NEDC Act.

The act stipulates that the commission shall develop a master plan based on the needs assessment of the north-east.

He explained that the 10-year development plan (2020 to 2030) had four implementation phases, 11 pillars and 529 schemes, programmes and projects.

“We are here today the whole board of the commission to meet with the Vice-President; as you can recall, on August 9, this new board was inaugurated by him,” Alkali said.

“And today we came to give him highlights of our master plan. That is the document we are going to use in delivering our mandate in the north-east so that he will appreciate what we want to do in the next four years.”