President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to ensure the timely release of funds approved for the North Central Development Commission and other regional development commissions.
Tinubu issued the directive on Monday while declaring open the North Central Development Commission Summit, held under the theme, “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic Infrastructure and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”
Akume, who represented the President at the event, said the establishment of the regional development commissions was part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at accelerating infrastructure and socio-economic development across the country.
According to him, the Federal Government would continue to provide the commissions with the necessary political and financial support to implement projects capable of unlocking Nigeria’s economic and industrial potential.
Tinubu therefore instructed the SGF to ensure that funds due to the commissions were released promptly.
The President, however, urged the commissions to look beyond government allocations by pursuing public-private partnerships, donor support and development financing to execute large-scale projects.
He identified rail transportation, aviation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and healthcare as key areas requiring attention.
Tinubu also cautioned the boards and management of the commissions against corruption, marginalisation, political interference and the diversion or misuse of public resources.
He warned that anyone found culpable would face appropriate sanctions.
The President further clarified that the regional commissions were not created to take over or duplicate the responsibilities of state and local governments or existing Federal Government agencies.
He charged the North Central Development Commission to complement ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity in the region, stressing that sustainable development could only thrive in a secure and stable environment.
Speaking at the summit, Nasarawa State Governor and Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, Abdullahi Sule, said the region had the human and natural resources required to become a major driver of Nigeria’s economic growth.
Sule called for greater investment in processing and value addition, particularly in the agricultural and mining sectors, rather than continuing to export raw materials.
“When you are mining in North Central, you must also process in North Central,” the governor said.
He cited the establishment of a cement factory in Kogi State as an example of how processing raw materials within the region could stimulate economic growth and create employment.
Sule also disclosed that Nasarawa State had more than 400 steel licences when he assumed office in 2019 but lacked a processing facility despite its abundant mineral resources.
He said the situation had changed, noting that the state now hosts Nigeria’s largest and second-largest lithium processing plants.
The governor described the North Central as a major contributor to Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial economy, citing its production of cement, rice and sesame, among other resources.
He said the region’s major requirement was visionary leadership capable of developing and implementing sustainable long-term plans.
“What do we need more? We need thinkers. We need implementers. We need people who understand what it means to lead,” Sule said.
The governor also praised the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, claiming that the policies had improved revenue available to the Federal, state and local governments.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the North Central Development Commission, Cyril Tsenyil, said the commission was established to coordinate regional development, mobilise resources and build strategic partnerships.
Tsenyil stressed that the commission was not intended to replace the six states in the North Central or the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the commission’s 20-year development plan would prioritise the creation of regional economic corridors, value addition in agriculture and mining, infrastructure development and expanded opportunities for young people.
According to him, the North Central should aim to become one of Africa’s most competitive agricultural regions, rather than being known solely as Nigeria’s agricultural hub.
