The Managing Director of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, says the Commission will align its proposed strategic road map with the National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) currently undergoing validation.
According
to him, the NRDP will strengthen the Commission’s capacity to drive strategic
development priorities capable of transforming the North Central region and
aligning it with national development goals of the Renewed Hope Administration
of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr.
Tsenyil spoke during the Regional Technical Validation Workshop on the National
Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026–2030 held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
According
to him, the policy represents a bold and strategic framework aimed at promoting
balanced territorial development, strengthening regional competitiveness,
enhancing intergovernmental coordination, and ensuring that no region is left
behind in the pursuit of national prosperity.
He noted
that the NCDC has continued to develop frameworks for its interventions, adding
that the implementation of the National Regional Development Policy will
further enhance the Commission’s mandate and operations.
The
Managing Director stressed that the North Central Development Commission stands
to achieve more through collaboration and synergy with other Regional
Development Commissions, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, security,
investment, human capital development, empowerment, and productivity across the
regions.
Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, represented
by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Albert Asotibe,
disclosed that the North Central workshop is the third in the series of
regional validation engagements, following similar exercises in the South East
and South South geopolitical zones.
She
explained that the National Regional Development Policy is designed to provide
a coordinated roadmap for regional development in line with President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The
Permanent Secretary further revealed that once fully developed, adopted, and
approved by the Federal Executive Council, the policy would serve as a
comprehensive guide for the operations of Regional Development Commissions to
ensure synergy and national integration.
Also
speaking, the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, represented by
Policy Specialist Dr. Sola, described the policy initiative as inclusive and
people-oriented, noting that it provides citizens with opportunities to
actively participate in shaping the development of their regions through
inputs, suggestions, and constructive engagement.
He
emphasized that the success of the policy would depend largely on public
ownership, with the Development Commissions serving as key drivers of
implementation.
Participants
at the workshop were urged to contribute meaningfully toward enriching the
draft policy to ensure it becomes a solid platform for rapid and sustainable
development.
Other
stakeholders commended the Ministry of Regional Development, the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), and the North Central Development Commission for
convening the workshop and fostering broad stakeholder participation.
The
workshop later proceeded into technical sessions where the Lead Consultant
presented an overview of the draft NRDP document.
In their
various contributions, participants raised issues bordering on project
conception and needs assessment, funding mechanisms and public-private
partnerships, institutional discipline and leadership, monitoring and
evaluation, grassroots participation, and equitable distribution of projects
across the regions.
.){kind=link}
0 Comments
DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed on this platform as comments were freely made by each person under his or her own volition or responsibility and were neither suggested nor dictated by the owners of News PLATFORM or any of their contracted staff. So we take no liability whatsoever for such comments.
Please take note!