NCDC Pledges Fair Distribution of Projects and Interventions Across North Central Region

By Dooshima Terkura

The Chairman of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Barr. Cosmos Akighir, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring equitable distribution of projects and interventions across all states in the region.

Akighir stated this on Tuesday in Lafia during a two-day Policy Review Workshop organized by the NCDC to review and validate its draft Development Roadmap.

He explained that the roadmap focuses on promoting regional integration, modernizing agriculture, expanding infrastructure, and tackling poverty and social inequality.

According to him, in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the NCDC is committed to harnessing the strengths of the North Central region to drive balanced development and ensure that growth reaches every community.

“Our focus will be on healthcare, social services, and creating core social amenities. We aim to promote self-sufficiency through public-private partnerships,” Akighir said.

He added, “We are working towards consolidation, renewal, regional integration, strengthening regional institutions, and sustaining the regional environment. Citizens living in poverty are more vulnerable to insecurity. Our roadmap seeks to lift the North Central region out of poverty and drive development across communities.”

Earlier, the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, urged the NCDC to ensure fairness and inclusivity in distributing projects across the region in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He described the roadmap as a “bold statement of intent” that aligns with the President’s vision for 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, infrastructure gaps, and youth unemployment must be addressed through collaboration and effective planning,” he stated.

Momoh called on the Commission to partner with state governments, the private sector, and development partners to tackle these challenges, emphasizing that fairness, justice, and inclusivity must guide all interventions.

He cautioned against concentrating projects in specific areas, noting that the Commission’s resources should be spread across all member states for balanced development.

“The funds allocated to the North Central Development Commission are meant for the entire region. Every community must be carried along,” he said.

The minister also advised the Commission to prioritize the implementation of its roadmap and involve stakeholders in creating a master plan that clearly defines strategies, funding sources, and measurable outcomes.

“A roadmap must go beyond words. It should show what needs to be done, the cost, and funding sources,” he added.

Momoh commended the Commission’s leadership for its proactive efforts, noting that it had convened two board meetings since inauguration and emphasizing the importance of teamwork and board oversight in decision-making.

Declaring the workshop open, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, lauded the Commission’s proactive measures toward implementing developmental projects across the region.

He stated that the NCDC was created to address infrastructural deficits and development challenges in the North Central zone through interventions in agriculture, health, environment, and security.

“As the agricultural hub of the nation, the North Central region is blessed with arable land and solid minerals that, if well harnessed, can transform its economy,” he said.

Governor Sule assured the NCDC of the Nasarawa State Government’s continued support and collaboration to ensure the Commission fulfills its mandate.

Also speaking, the NCDC Managing Director, Dr. Cyril Tsenyil, said the retreat marked a milestone in strengthening the Commission’s institutional foundation and operational framework ahead of its full take-off.

According to him, the workshop, supported by SPRING, provided an avenue to review the draft policy roadmap and develop actionable strategies for inclusive and sustainable growth in the region.

He disclosed that since the board’s inauguration in August 2025, the Commission has held two board meetings, set up 13 committees, and presented its 2025 budget proposal to the National Assembly.

“We are committed to building a strong foundation through strategic partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and inclusive planning,” Tsenyil added.

The two-day workshop is expected to produce a comprehensive and actionable roadmap for the Commission, alongside a communiqué outlining key resolutions for implementation.