By Atlantic Reports

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has completed and commissioned more than 21 infrastructure projects in two years, according to Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Ahmadu.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday in Abuja, Ahmadu said the projects included bridges, roads, mega schools and other facilities across Taraba, Bauchi, Adamawa, Gombe, Borno and Yobe.

He said the interventions were intended to connect communities, improve public services and address infrastructure gaps in areas affected by insecurity.

Bridges to Connect Communities

Ahmadu cited bridges around Bara and Duku among projects commissioned during a recent tour, saying they linked communities across Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa.

He emphasised that some structures comprised seven, eight or nine spans, distinguishing them from smaller culverts.

For communities dependent on road transport, such connections can improve access to markets, schools and healthcare. However, the interview did not provide traffic figures, journey-time comparisons or maintenance arrangements for the bridges.

Yobe School Designed for About 14,000 Pupils

The minister highlighted the Ari Kime School project in Yobe, which he said brought primary and secondary education together within a secured environment.

According to Ahmadu, the school comprises eight blocks of two-storey classrooms, staff quarters, a clinic, sporting and recreational facilities, with capacity for about 14,000 pupils.

“We took schools in dangerous areas, so to speak, to secure the lives of the pupils, brought them together like small communities scattered around Potiskum Local Government,” he said.

The stated capacity does not establish current enrolment. The account did not specify how many pupils were attending, staffing levels or transport arrangements for children drawn from surrounding communities.

Ahmadu said similar school projects had been developed elsewhere, with their sizes determined by local needs and pupil populations.

University and Water Infrastructure

The minister said the commission had constructed lecture theatres and other facilities at Yobe State University, Borno State University and Taraba State University.

He identified a multi-storey entrepreneurship centre at Taraba State University, saying furniture, computers and other learning materials had also been provided.

Water interventions, he said, included industrial boreholes, overhead tanks with capacities of 10,000 litres and steel reservoirs across the region.

Ahmadu added that healthcare infrastructure and human capacity development formed part of the commission’s wider programme.

He said the commissions worked with state governments to identify priorities requiring federal support beyond individual states’ capacities.

Funding and Evidence of Delivery

Ahmadu called for increased funding, arguing that additional resources would enable the commissions to undertake more projects.

He said the ministry operated through the regular budgetary process, while the commissions received allocations through first-line charges. He maintained that available resources were being used judiciously.

The interview did not provide project-by-project costs, funding releases, actual expenditure or a complete inventory supporting the total of more than 21 completed projects.

Ahmadu also urged journalists to track interventions, describing misinformation and limited public awareness as challenges facing the ministry.

Public access to project locations, costs, completion records and operational status would help communities assess delivery. Beyond commissioning, the lasting value of the projects will depend on whether they remain accessible, adequately staffed and maintained.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.