President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the governing board of the newly established North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The inauguration took place Wednesday, shortly before commencement of the weekly meeting of Federal Executive Council.

The new board is chaired by Mr Paul Tarfa, a retired major-general.

The event held inside council chamber of State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Other members of the board are Mohammed Alkali (Managing Director), Musa Yashi, Executive Director Humanitarian Affairs; Muhammed Jawa, Executive Director Administration and Finance and Omar Mohammed, Executive Director Operations.

Others are David Kente, member representing North East Zone; Asmau Mohammed, member representing North West Zone; Benjamin Adanyi, member representing North Central Zone, Olawale Oshun, member representing South West Zone; T. Ekechi member representing South East and Obasuke McDonald, member representing South-South.

Inaugurating the board, Mr Buhari said the establishment of the commission was in fulfilment of the pledge of his administration to fast track the development of the region.

Northeast is badly damaged as a result of activities of insurgent group Boko Haram.

The president also said the establishment of the commission was in appreciation of the massive electoral support the zone gave him in the 2015 and 2019 general elections.

For the successful take-off of the commission, the president said N10 billion was provided in this year’s budget. He urged the board to judiciously use the fund.

He mandated the board to conduct a comprehensive survey of all the states in the northeast to know the magnitude of the damage caused by insurgency.

PT