The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has directed the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to ensure the equitable distribution of all projects and interventions. This directive is intended to align the NCDC’s efforts with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of shared prosperity.
The minister issued the charge on Tuesday in Lafia during a two-day Policy Review Workshop organized by the NCDC. The workshop’s purpose was to review and validate the Commission’s draft Development Roadmap.
Momoh described the roadmap as a “bold statement of intent” designed to champion sustainable growth and inclusive national development. He stressed that the Federal Government is committed to leveraging the unique strengths of Nigeria’s regions to foster balanced national growth.
The minister highlighted that the North Central region is uniquely endowed with vast agricultural potential, solid mineral resources, and a resilient population, making its development vital to national success.
“However, challenges such as insecurity, infrastructural gaps and youth unemployment must be addressed through collaboration and effective planning,” he said.
Momoh urged the Commission to partner with state governments, the private sector, and development partners to tackle regional challenges, stressing that fairness, justice and inclusivity must guide its interventions.
He cautioned against concentrating projects in certain localities, noting that the Commission’s resources must be deployed across all member states to achieve balanced development.
“The funds meant for the North Central Development Commission are to serve the entire region. Every community must be carried along,” he said.
The minister also advised the Commission to prioritise effective implementation of its roadmap and involve all stakeholders in producing a master plan that would clearly outline strategies, funding sources and measurable outcomes.
“A roadmap is not just about talk. It must show what needs to be done, how much is required and where funds will come from,” he added.
Momoh commended the leadership of the Commission for holding two board meetings since its inauguration and emphasised the importance of teamwork and board oversight in decision-making.
Declaring the workshop open, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, commended the Commission’s management for its proactive steps toward implementing projects across the region.
He said that the NCDC was established to address the infrastructural deficits and developmental challenges of the North Central zone through strategic interventions in agriculture, health, environment and security.
“As a region, the North Central is the agricultural hub of the nation, blessed with arable land and solid minerals. These endowments, if properly harnessed, can transform the region’s economy,” he said.
Sule assured the Commission of the Nasarawa State Government’s continued support and cooperation to enable it to deliver on its mandate.
Earlier, Mr Cosmas Akighir, Chairman of the Commission, said that the roadmap would focus on promoting regional integration, modernising agriculture, expanding infrastructure, and addressing poverty and social inequality.
“Citizens exposed to poverty are more vulnerable than those facing other forms of insecurity. Our roadmap seeks to extricate the North Central region from poverty and drive growth across communities,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Cyril Tsenyil, the Managing Director of the NCDC, said the retreat marked a milestone in the Commission’s efforts to strengthen its institutional foundation and operational structures ahead of full take-off.
Tsenyil said the workshop, supported by SPRING, provided an opportunity to review the Commission’s draft policy roadmap and generate actionable strategies for inclusive and sustainable development in the North Central region.
He explained that since the board’s inauguration in August 2025, the Commission had held two board meetings, established 13 committees, and presented its 2025 budget proposal to the National Assembly for consideration.
“We are committed to laying a strong foundation through strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement and inclusive planning,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day workshop is expected to produce a comprehensive and actionable roadmap for the Commission and a communiqué outlining key resolutions for implementation.
