NEDC seeks Japans’ support to raise $75b for North East recovery

North East Development Commission (NEDC) has called for support from the Japanese government and donor agencies to raise $75 billion for the recovery of the region ravaged by terrorism.

The Managing Director, Mohamed Alkali, made this appeal, yesterday, in Abuja while hosting the Japanese Ambassador, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, together with the Country Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

North East Development Commission

According to Alkali, there is also a need for capacity building for lawyers and others involved in psychosocial to make returnee Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) stabilise, accept the reality and move forward.

Kazuyoshi, who disclosed that JICA would plan and implement activities in line with the NEDC master plan, added that the “embassy expects early completion” of the plan.

He said the consulate would continue to support activities based on the NEDC roadmap as the focal organisation responsible for assessing, coordinating and harmonising all development initiatives of the North East.

Noting that the Japanese government expects to witness sustainable development of North-East states in the future, the ambassador assured of support from Japanese companies in the recovery of North East in the future.

The embassy, he added, has been supporting the recovery and reconstruction of North-East states by disbursing supplementary budgets to United Nations agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for the capacity development of government officials and communities, building infrastructure and provision of equipment.