House of Representatives Committee on North – East Development Commission (NEDC), on Thursday, embarked on inspection of some projects being undertaken by Commission in Bauchi as part of its oversight functions.
Members of the Committee inspected ongoing construction of bridges in Kalajanga, Bara and the point in Tashan Turmi where another main bridge is to be constructed.
The Committee also inspected ongoing construction of a 53km road that will link Bauchi and Gombe states through the Kirfi – Gombe /Abba road.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Usman Zanna leading other Members of the Committee visited the project sites in order to have first-hand information about the projects as well as ascertain the extent of performance by the contractors.
Members of the Committee were conducted round the projects by the Managing Director/CEO of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali assisted by other Management staff of the Commission.
At the project sites, the contracting firms took time to brief the Committee Members on the project performance with assurance of performing according to specifications and timeline.
In his remarks at the beginning of the inspection tour, Usman Zanna said that the Committee decided to embark on the inspection so as to assess the level of work done so far under the NEDC.
He added that it was an effort to complement what the Bauchi State Government is doing in ensuring availability of access to rural areas through construction of rural and feeder roads to open up the communities across the state.
While commending NEDC Management for a job well done, the Commuttee charged it to beckon on the contractors handling the various projects to intensify efforts to speed up completion of the project.
The Committee Members also charged NEDC to ensure that quality work was done on the projects.
In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of NEDC, Alh Mohammed Goni Alkali appreciated Members of the Committee for embarking on the inspection as part of their oversight functions.
He said that the Commission is closedly working to supervising all the Projects in order to ensure that they succeeded and executed according to specifications and contractual agreements.
Mohammed Alkali also said that all the Projects are very strategic to the growth and development of Bauchi and its people assuring that the Commission will do its best to ensure timely completion of all the projects.
NEDC projects in Bauchi include construction of Institute of Ophthalmology Complex in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, rehabilitation of Shira Healthcare -in Alkaleri LGA, completion of community Healthcare center in Dagudi, Alkaleri LGA, construction of surgical ward and equipping, rehabilitation/ skills acquisition of National Obstetrics Center in Ningi.
Others are construction and equipping of a triage (medical emergency complex) center at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, reconstruction of culverts and drainage along Alkaleri-Futuk Road, Construction of Kirfi-Gombe Abba Road – Kirfi Gombe, Establishment of 3 new forestry nurseries with general silvicultural services through: Drilling of solar powered boreholes, reticulation of water supply, chain-link fencing of borehole areas in each of the new Nurseries in Yashi (Alkaleri LGA), Bogoro LGA, Bununu (Tafawa Balewa LGA) and Kafin Madaki (Ganjuwa LGA).
The NEDC also embarked on Construction of Input Stores, Toilets, Security Posts, Nursery Sheds and Perimeter chain-link Fencing at Three Nursery sites in Bauchi, Jama’re, Darazo, and Nabordo in Toro LGA as well as Drilling of 6’’ diameter (350m) API borehole with solar hybrid accessories, construction of overhead tank and provision of water points on concrete slab – Daguri, Alkaleri LGA, amongst others.