The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has donated 130 luggage trolleys to six airports across the North-East region, alongside broadcasting equipment to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), as part of efforts to support infrastructure development in the region.

The Managing Director of the NEDC, Muhammad Alkali, presented the items on Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State, noting that the intervention aligns with the commission’s mandate to support rebuilding efforts in the conflict-affected region.

He said the donation was informed by consultations with relevant stakeholders to identify critical needs.

“We are here as part of our mandate to support the rebuilding process in the North-East. From the beginning, we have been collaborating with the media because everyone needs information,” Alkali said.

He added that the commission prioritised practical and immediate needs across sectors, including aviation, security, and media.

According to him, “We engaged all our partners to know their demand… This gesture cuts across all sectors; we have done the same thing with the police, military, and media.”

The 130 trolleys were distributed across the six North-East states, with Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe receiving allocations.

Alkali explained that Borno received 30 trolleys, while the remaining states got 20 each.

He also noted that the FAAN was included in the intervention due to challenges observed at airports in the region.

In addition to the trolleys, the NEDC handed over broadcasting equipment to the FRCN, including a 5KW transmitter with antenna system and installation, broadband antenna, studio computers, professional consoles, microphones, drones, lighting kits, and other technical equipment.

The items were received on behalf of the FRCN by its Director-General, Muhammad Bulama, who said the intervention would improve broadcasting capacity in the region.

“For me, the most important assistance here today is the supply of solar power to our stations. With this, it means our stations in the North-East can now broadcast 12 to 15 hours per day,” Bulama said.

Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also commended the donation, noting that the trolleys would improve passenger experience and ease the movement of luggage at airports across the region.