By Abdullkareem Haruna

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has has today, Oct. 31, signed a vital Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mutual Commitment Group (MCG), a renowned Chinese construction company.

The bilateral accord is a significant step in furtherance of the NEDC core mission of rebuilding and rehabilitating the war-torn regions of Nigeria’s North East, with a view to addressing the ongoing challenges faced by millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other victims of Boko Haram.

The signing of the MOU was made public by Major General Paul Tarfa (rtd.), who is the Chairman of the NEDC, at the end of a meeting the newly reconstituted NEDC Board of Directors had with the MCG executives.

The meeting, held at the commission’s headquarters in Maiduguri on Tuesday, was attended by Managing Director Goni Alkali and the Management Team of MCG, led by its Managing Director, Mr. Long Liu.

Emphasizing the urgency and significance of the MoU, General Tarfa highlighted the importance of scaling up the commission’s people-centric interventions across the six states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba.

He expressed deep concern over the atrocities committed by insurgents in the region over the past decade, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to address both the immediate and long-term challenges faced by the affected communities.

Under the MoU, the collaborative efforts between the NEDC and MCG will encompass a wide range of sectors, including renewable energy and power generation, healthcare, education, agriculture, roads construction, climate improvement, job creation, poverty alleviation, as well as rehabilitation and resettlement initiatives.

This comprehensive approach aims to provide durable solutions and address the multifaceted needs of the affected population.

In a press briefing held after the signing of the MoU, Mr. Liu, the Managing Director of MCG, expressed his company’s commitment to the development of the North East subregion.

“We are here at the NEDC office as development partners, joining hands to sign an MoU on infrastructure, industry, and regional development projects,” he said.

“This MoU is a testament to our shared objective of addressing the immediate challenges and devastating consequences brought about by the insurgents, as well as the resultant economic downturn.”

Mr. Liu further outlined the key areas of focus for the partnership, including reconstruction efforts, ecological and climate change management, power infrastructure, transportation systems, resettlement programs, education initiatives, and a host of other projects critical to the region’s recovery.

He reassured the people of the North East and all Nigerians that MCG is fully committed to altering the existing narratives through an integrated approach that combines development strategies with attracting additional investment opportunities.

The signing of the MoU between the NEDC and MCG marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate the North East region of Nigeria.