Abuja: The Federal Government has announced plans to audit regional development commissions across the nation, with potential sanctions for those identified as non-performing. The Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, made this disclosure during the inaugural North Central Stakeholders Development Summit organized by the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the two-day summit, themed ‘A Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural, and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region,’ brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future of regional development. Momoh emphasized the importance of adhering to public governance frameworks and aligning commission activities with federal policies and regulations. He stressed that these commissions are government entities, not private enterprises, and must operate within the established guidelines.
Momoh announced that a comprehensive performance audit and peer review of all regional development commissions would be conducted soon. The results of this exercise will be submitted to President Bola Tinubu to evaluate the effectiveness of each commission in fulfilling its mandate. He urged commissions that have been inactive to improve their performance, as the audit findings will influence decisions on their future.
Commending the NCDC and the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for their proactive approach, Momoh encouraged other commissions to emulate the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which has reportedly shifted towards transformational development. He cited Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who noted the NDDC’s progress from a transactional to a transformative institution under the current administration.
The Minister of State for Regional Development, Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu, highlighted the establishment of the NCDC as a strategic response to challenges in the North Central region. He discussed the upcoming National Regional Development Policy, set to run from 2026 to 2030, which aims to create a unified framework for regional planning and resource mobilization.
Mr. Abdullahi Sule, the host governor and Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, called for realistic economic planning focused on industrial processing and resource development. Citing Nasarawa’s growing lithium and cement industries, Sule emphasized the region’s potential as an industrial driver and highlighted the need for dedicated leadership and strategic execution.
Presenting the draft 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural, and Social Development Plan, NCDC Managing Director Dr. Cyril Tsenyil stressed regional collaboration to compete globally. He announced the deployment of ‘Deal Rooms’ to match regional projects with financial opportunities, aiming to end the summit with actionable deals and commitments.
The summit, attended by ministers, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and private-sector leaders, aimed to establish structured investment pipelines and promote coordinated development across the North Central region.