NEDC donates N2bn to victims of market fire in Maiduguri

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has donated two billion naira to traders of Maiduguri Monday Market to re-establish their capital. 

The market, which was engulfed by fire in February this year, was reconstructed by Borno state government and has been reopened for business activities. 

Managing Director of the Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Akali made this known when the newly reconstituted board of NEDC paid a courtesy visit to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri. 

”The Board resolved that at least for now, we can provide what we call the restart capital, because when the market was burnt down, we know the situation. So, the Board has decided to give a grant of N2bn to support the traders in taking off their business” Alkali stated. 

Chairman of the Board, Retired Major General Paul Tarfa, expressed determination to carry out the mandate of which the Commission was established.

He said the Board has so far visited Gombe, Bauchi and Yobe states and promised to scale up development work in the region. 

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum acknowledged the support the North East Development Commission was providing the people of the sub-region especially the displaced. 

He called on NEDC to key into the agenda of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the state government in order to address the root causes of insurgency. 

“We want chunk of the funds from North East Development Commission to be invested mainly on road construction, education, utilisation of renewable energy, investment in commercial agriculture, job creation and security above all” Zulum said. 

In March, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, presented food items to victims of Maiduguri Monday Market fire incident.