The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mutual Commitment Group (MCG), a Chinese construction company, to support the ongoing Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR) efforts aimed at assisting millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other victims affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting held at the NEDC’s headquarters in Maiduguri. The meeting included the NEDC Chairman and Major General Paul Tarfa (rtd). Additionally, the newly reconstituted Board members were also present. They include the Managing Director of NEDC, Goni Alkali, and the Management Team of MCG, Managing Director, Mr. Long Liu.
The Main Areas Of Collaboration Outlines In The IDP Rehabilitation and Reconstruction MOU.
The areas of collaboration outlined in the MOU encompass a wide range of sectors. Including renewable energy and power generation, healthcare, education, agriculture, and road construction. Additional projects include climate considerations, job creation, poverty alleviation, as well as rehabilitation and resettlement efforts. The government’s efforts to close IDP camps and resettle people have raised concerns. This is due to the proximity of resettlement sites to areas where jihadist groups operate. These IDPs often lack security, public services, and livelihood opportunities, making them vulnerable to economic engagement with insurgents.
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Major General Tarfa emphasized the necessity of IDP rehabilitation and reconstruction to enhance the people-oriented initiatives being carried out across the six affected states. They inlude Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba. He acknowledged the gravity of the atrocities committed by insurgents in the region over the past decade and stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to address both short and long-term solutions.
Mr. Liu, Managing Director of MCG, expressed the company’s commitment to partnering with NEDC to address IDP rehabilitation and reconstruction. Furthermore, they were to address the devastating impact of insurgency, including the economic consequences. He outlined key areas of focus, including reconstruction, ecological and climate change initiatives, power generation, transportation, resettlement programs, educational projects, and various other development endeavors.
The partnership aims to bring about positive change and attract further investment opportunities to the North East region, with a focus on a holistic and integrated approach to reconstruction and development.
