Abuja: The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has introduced a comprehensive 20-year Economic, Infrastructural, and Social Development Plan aimed at transforming the North Central region of Nigeria. This plan, spanning from 2027 to 2046, targets the advancement of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into a productive, connected, inclusive, and resilient region.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the details of this plan were disclosed in a communique issued at the conclusion of the NCDC Road Map and Stakeholders’ Development Summit, which took place at the Abuja Continental Hotel from September 14 to 15. The communique was presented by Prof. Muhammad Nuhu, Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, and received unanimous adoption from participants at the summit’s closing.
The summit, themed ‘The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region’, attracted 862 physical attendees and 49 online participants, including representatives from the Federal Government, governors of the mandate states and FCT, National Assembly members, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, the private sector, academia, civil society, and media.
Dr. Cyril Tsenyil, Managing Director of NCDC, welcomed participants and highlighted the summit as the beginning of an inclusive, evidence-led development journey. Additionally, a new NCDC logo was unveiled to symbolize unity and collective transformation.
The keynote speaker, Sen. Iyorwuese Hagher, emphasized the need for the region to leverage its historical contributions, diversity, natural resources, and human capital to achieve shared prosperity. Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who is also the Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, highlighted the region’s agricultural and mineral potential and formally presented the draft 20-year plan.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, representing the President, praised the consultative process and urged for impactful and fundable interventions. The communique noted the region’s abundant resources but acknowledged that these assets have not yet translated into commensurate productivity and incomes due to fragmented planning, weak inter-state connectivity, insecurity, infrastructure gaps, limited value addition, and inconsistent implementation.
The summit resolved to develop a GIS-enabled regional economic database and map the comparative advantages of each state. It emphasized building state-specific agricultural and livestock value chains and formalizing artisanal mining with mineral-processing clusters. Infrastructure development will focus on connecting the six states and FCT through strategic roads, rail, inland waterways, and logistics.
Social development initiatives will include establishing a disaggregated human-capital and social-inclusion data system and implementing a safe and inclusive education framework. Security measures will involve establishing a coordinated regional security and peace-building framework, integrating security planning into farms, transport corridors, schools, and markets.
The summit also resolved to develop a North Central Climate and Disaster Resilience Programme and undertake priority flood and erosion interventions. Digital economy advancements will focus on developing inclusive regional digital infrastructure and creating innovation financing mechanisms.
On financing, the summit proposed matching financing instruments to the economics of each project and mobilizing public resources, development finance, and private-sector participation. Institutional delivery will involve giving the plan durable legal backing and establishing a Programme Management Office within the NCDC.
Participants expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for establishing the NCDC and acknowledged the contributions of governors, the FCT Minister, National Assembly, and other stakeholders.