News
‘Our projects are visible in all nooks and crannies of North East’,
‘Our projects are visible in all nooks and crannies of North East’,
NEDC replies critic, cautions public against antics of mischief makers
By: Our Reporter
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) says the people-oriented projects it initiated and executed are visible, verifiable and functional in all the nooks and crannies of the north east region. It stated that contrary to the lies peddled by an “uninformed mischief maker and his co-travelers”, the Commission remains a paragon of transparency and prudence in public project execution.
Reacting to an article that surfaced online and credited to one Reverend Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa which called for the immediate removal of the Managing Director of NEDC, Mr Mohammed Goni Alkali, for “corruption and embezzlement”, the Commission says the allegation leveled against its Management “was nothing but wicked desperation and parochial sentiment of the ignorant author and his paymasters aimed at smearing the reputation of the result-oriented MD and misleading the general public, for whatever ulterior motives”.
According to the Commission, it wouldn’t have been necessary to dignify Mr Kallamu and his tales of moonlight with a response but just so to keep the records straight, it is expedient to debunk the “tissues of lies and harebrained innuendoes contained in the said article”. It said the article was as shocking as it was disappointing especially coming from a self-acclaimed reverend, noting that the embittered writer didn’t think that the good people of the North East who could come out with testimonies of the impactful projects initiated, completed and inaugurated by the NEDC under the able leadership of Goni Alkali.
“We make bold to say that the accounts of NEDC are always there for anyone to investigate. The MD, Mr. Goni Alkali is certainly one of the most prudent and strict civil servants we have known not only in the North East, but the entire country”.
“To set the records straight; ever since the inception of the first board in 2019, the Goni Alkali-led team had boldly confronted the enormous humanitarian crisis in the region with the clarity of purpose and sense of responsibility. The intervention agency saw itself standing delicately at the center of the vast wilderness of the monumental devastation meted on the region by the global-class insurgency.
“The NEDC Board, with the competence and commitment of its steersman, the MD/CEO, Mohammed Goni Alkali, had to, first formulate policies, programmes and projects in collaboration with the Federal Government and Six (6) State Governments, global domestic agencies and every other relevant stakeholder to execute the task in line with its statutory mandate. The results of Alkali’s performance since 2019 have been incontrovertibly exceptional on the global scale and aimed at rebuilding entities from the rubbles of all terror and violent conflicts”.
The Commission maintains that its projects are visible in all nooks and crannies of the North East and in all areas of human needs: Houses build for resettlement of IDPs; roads and bridges in all the six states of the region; mega schools in the 18 Senatorial districts, state-of-the-art hospital interventions in all the six states; training of youths in various states in different skillsets including ICT, renewal energy, etc.
But NEDC’s intervention in region goes beyond provision of shelter, roads, basic schools; it has also revamped tertiary Institutions and healthcare service delivery in the affected area and much more. The construction of a befitting facility to serve as the Center for the Study of Violence and Extremism (CSVE) is one of the signature projects of the Commission.
Without doubt, what drives NEDC to its acclaimed excellence is the proficiency and sheer commitment of people at the helm of its affairs. Far-sightedness is the defining leadership quality of the team. NEDC’s blue print which is at the point of implementation is the building of a rail road to connect states in the region with the Nigerian south.
Projects like the introduction of electric mobility to significantly reduce cost of transportation within the region, reduce carbon emission and guarantee clean energy are some of the transformative projects which the Goni-led team are birthing. Also in the pipeline are the proposed North East Airline to carter for not only the region but the entire country, as well as specialized hospitals intervention to provide for the health needs of the people of the region.
Agricultural interventions to guarantee food security in addition to the palliative distribution of food and other non-food items across the entire region is one of the high points of Goni Alkali’s achievements in the last five years.
According to a high-profile politician in the region who pleaded anonymity, it will amount to witchcraft for anyone to accuse Mr Goni Alkali of non-performance or even corruption in view of his accomplishments and style of leadership. “Isn’t it remarkable that under Mohammed Goni Alkali, NEDC has been able to execute over 700 critical projects in about four years? How can such a man who has deployed his entire passion and mind into coordinating the expansive operations of the agency be an object of wicked and destructive criticism by faceless people?
As remarked by a resident in one of the states in the region, the spontaneous outcome of Goni Alkali’s excellent showing as MD/CEO of NEDC is the increased calls by all regions of Nigeria for similar interventionist commissions. Not a few agrees with him.
‘Our projects are visible in all nooks and crannies of North East’,
Two policemen killed, three missing as Bandits ambush tactical team in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Two police personnel have been killed, three declared missing and two others injured after suspected Fulani herdsmen ambushed a police tactical team in Sabon Sara village, Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred on Nov. 22 at about 12:48 p.m. when the operatives were on an intelligence-led patrol in the area, which has recorded persistent farmer-herder conflicts.
The tactical team, drawn from Mobile Police Squadron 10 (Mopol 10), the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and the State Intelligence Department (SID), was ambushed by yet-to-be-identified herders who opened fire on them.
“DSP Ahmad Muhammad of SID and Inspector Amarhel Yunusa of Mopol 10 were confirmed dead at the scene,” the source said.
The sources added that ASP Mustapha Muhammad and Inspector Idris Ahmed, both of Mopol 10, as well as Corporal Isah Muazu of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, were declared missing after the attack.
According to the sources, Inspector Isah Musa and Inspector Yusuf Gambo, both of the State Intelligence Department, sustained injuries and were evacuated to the General Hospital, Darazo for treatment.
The sources said that the Commissioner of Police has ordered the deployment of additional tactical units to reinforce the Darazo Division and intensify efforts to trace the missing personnel and apprehend the attackers.
Two policemen killed, three missing as Bandits ambush tactical team in Bauchi
Police storms bandits enclave after bandits attack, rescue 25 abducted women in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Zamfara Police Command has rescued 25 abducted persons, including 10 women and 15 children, following a coordinated response to a bandit attack on Kuraje village in Damba area of Gusau Local Government Area.
A source told Zagazola Makama on Sunday that the incident occurred on Nov. 21 at about 9:45 p.m., when armed bandits in large numbers invaded the community, shooting sporadically before abducting the victims.
According to the source, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Damba Division, working alongside operatives from the Department of Operations Gusau and Community Protection Guards (CPG), immediately mobilised to the scene after receiving the distress report.
“The joint police teams engaged the bandits in a gun battle and successfully rescued all the abducted women and children,” the source said.
He added that the rescued victims were taken to Sabongari Damba for safety and were expected to be reunited with their families on Sunday morning.
The police assured that efforts were ongoing to track fleeing bandits and enhance security around vulnerable communities in the area.
Further developments are expected as operations continue.
Police storms bandits enclave after bandits attack, rescue 25 abducted women in Zamfara
Meth, cocaine consignments in machine cylinders, auto parts intercepted at Lagos airport
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled no fewer than six syndicates leading to the seizure of tons of assorted illicit drugs and the arrest of nine kingpins in series of intelligence-led interdiction operations, the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said on Sunday.
Babafemi, in a statement, said in one of such operations, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested two members of a drug trafficking organisation in Onitsha, Anambra state when they showed up to take delivery of 5.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine; 10.7 kilogrammes of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis; 16 grammes of cocaine; 200 grammes of phenacetin; 200 grammes of methcathinone and 100 grammes of caffeine concealed in pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa.
He disclosed that the first to show up at a logistics company in Onitsha for the collection of the consignments was 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer Ebulue Uzochukwu who was promptly arrested while shortly after, another member of the syndicate 51-year-old South Africa returnee Christopher Ndibuisi showed up and was equally arrested.
He said the consignments had arrived the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with airway bill number 118-12882973 arriving from South Africa on a Tag-Angola flight on 13th November 2025 and was immediately seized based on credible intelligence, adding that a follow up sting operation was thereafter organized in Onitsha, Anambra state where the recipients: Uzochukwu and Ndibuisi were arrested.
In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives last Thursday intercepted a brake servo automobile part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocaine
with a gross weight of 2.3 kilogrammes packed among other auto parts going to Gabon.
Babafemi said following the arrest of a freight agent Ameh Solomon who presented the consignment for export, a follow up at ASMPDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo Lagos led to the arrest of an auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu.
In Kogi state, NDLEA operatives last Monday intercepted a trailer conveying 4,700 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis at Kabba. Three suspects: Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba and Daniel Danladi accompanying the consignment were arrested while a follow up operation in Jos, Plateau state last Friday led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin who owns the trailer and the illicit drug consignment, Marcus Mangu.
Babafemi said a couple: 55-year-old Onun Okoi Okpotum and his wife 52-year-old Itam Okoi Okpotum were last Wednesday arrested at their warehouse located at 13 Park road, Ugep Yakur local government area, Cross River state where 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706 kilogrammes were recovered.
In Edo state, two women; Praise Nwogu, 19, and Ebong Oghosa, 25, who specialize in the production and online sale of brownies laced with illicit drugs were on Saturday arrested in Benin city. At the point of their arrest, Praise Nwogu, was said to have been found with 12 plates and a cup of drug-laced brownies laced while Ebong Oghosa, was nabbed with 76 grammes of skunk, 1.5 grammes of Colorado and drug-laced brownies.
A raid at Ososo village, Akoko Edo local government area last Tuesday led to the arrest of 35-year-old Shedrack Aminu, who was found with 59 kilogrammes skunk.
Operatives on patrol along Enugu/Onitsha road, Enugu State last Wednesday intercepted a suspect Chinoso Monday, 24, conveying 10.1 kilogrammes skunk; 105,600 pills of tramadol 250mg, 225mg and 100mg as well as 700 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 3000 rounds of live ammunition.
In Kebbi state, 13,155 bottles of codeine-based syrup were evacuated from a warehouse located at Dole-Kaina, Dandi local government area, while a 23-year-old suspect Umar Adamu was arrested with 12,548 pills of opioids concealed in paracetamol containers heading to a Boko Haram enclave in Mainok area of Borno state last Friday.
Two suspects: Anthony Mercy, 40, and Sunday Augustine, 39, were last Monday
arrested with 430.5 kilogrammes by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abaji- Abuja expressway in the FCT, while Samson Dafe, 47, was arrested at Dikko junction, Kaduna road, Tafa local government area, Niger state last Tuesday conveying 85,100 pills of opioids and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup in his Sharon vehicle marked ABJ 114 BV.
Babafemi said the premises of a suspect Sani Mohammed in Anguwan Makera Kuta, Shiroro local government area last Thursday raided with 437 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 471.8 kilogrammes recovered.
In Lagos, a suspect Usman Adegoke was arrested in connection with the seizure of
139 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 71 kilogrammes at an apartment in Lekki while a lady Oluchi Celestine was last Tuesday nabbed in Lekki with 2.6 kilogrammes Colorado packaged in branded containers and some concealed in flight boarding cards.
The spokesman said acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives supported by some military personnel last Monday raided the notorious Peti illicit drug enclave, Lagos Island where 385 kilogrammes of skunk, Loud and Colorado were recovered and two suspects arrested.
No less than 163,200 capsules of tramadol 225mg were also recovered in another operation at a motor park in Maza Maza area of Lagos.
Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Justifying the current heavy crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates, the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa said the coming festive season is usually a period often exploited by criminal elements, hence the agency has decided to launch a relentless offensive on drug trafficking cartels across the nation.
He said. “The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge. Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities, seeking to profit during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard.”
Meth, cocaine consignments in machine cylinders, auto parts intercepted at Lagos airport
Two policemen killed, three missing as Bandits ambush tactical team in Bauchi
Police storms bandits enclave after bandits attack, rescue 25 abducted women in Zamfara
Meth, cocaine consignments in machine cylinders, auto parts intercepted at Lagos airport
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