By Bridget Tikyaa
The Chairman of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Barr Cosmos Akighir, says the Commission will ensure fair and equitable distribution of projects and interventions among states in the geo-political region.
Akighir, made the promise on Tuesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State at the opening of a two-day Policy Review Workshop of the NCDC.
The workshop was organised to review and validate the commission’s draft Development Roadmap.
According to him, the roadmap would focus on promoting regional integration, modernising agriculture, expanding infrastructure, and addressing poverty and social inequality.
The NCDC Chairman said in line with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the NCDC was committed to harnessing the strengths of the country’s regions to drive balanced growth and ensure that development reached every community.
“Our focus will be on health care, social services and creating a core value of social amenities.
“We’re looking at promotion of self-sufficiency on the basis of public-private partnership piece.
“We are looking at consolidation, the renewal agenda, creating regional integration, strengthening regional institutions, and of course, sustaining regional environment.
“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.
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, earlier in his speech tasked the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to ensure equitable distribution of projects across the region in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He described the roadmap as a “bold statement of intent” designed to align with the President’s vision of sustainable growth, shared prosperity and inclusive national development.
“For the North Central region, this is a moment of renewal.
“The region is blessed with vast agricultural potential, solid minerals and resilient people.
“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 over concentration of projects in certain localities, noting that the Commission’s resources must be deployed across all member states to achieve balanced development.
The Minister said : “The funds meant for the North Central Development Commission are to serve the entire region.
“Every community must be carried along,” he said.
He 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 then assured the Commission of the State Government’s continued support and cooperation to enable it to deliver on its mandate.
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 two-day workshop is expected to produce a comprehensive and actionable roadmap for the Commission and a communiqué outlining key resolutions for implementation.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
