NCDC SUMMIT ADOPTS ROADMAP FOR NORTH CENTRAL TRANSFORMATION, SIGNS MOUs WITH NIRSAL, SMEDAN.

The first North Central Stakeholders Development Summit has ended in Abuja with participants adopting a seven-point communiqué outlining key priority areas for the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to accelerate the transformation and development of the region.

The communiqué, read by NCDC Executive Director, Finance, and Chairman of the Technical Committee, Prof. Muhammad Bashar Nuhu, followed two days of deliberations around the theme: “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region."

The Summit observed that the North Central region possesses extensive agricultural land, water, mineral and energy resources, human capital, markets and a strategic geographical location, but these assets have yet to consistently translate into commensurate productivity, incomes, industrial capacity and improved social outcomes.

Participants consequently identified economic development, infrastructure, social development, security, climate and environment, digital economy, and sustainable financing and institutional delivery as critical priorities for the region's long-term transformation.

Under economic development, the Summit recommended that NCDC develop a GIS-enabled regional economic database and undertake state-by-state mapping of comparative advantages, productive assets, land, farms, water, crops, minerals, infrastructure gaps and investment opportunities.

It also called for the development of state-specific agricultural and livestock value chains covering quality inputs, mechanisation, irrigation, farmer capacity, storage, processing, packaging, branding, logistics and exports, with priority projects sequenced into bankable quick wins.

On infrastructure, participants recommended an integrated North Central infrastructure programme linking the six states and the Federal Capital Territory through strategic roads, rail, inland waterways and logistics systems.

The programme should prioritise rehabilitation and completion of corridors that unlock agricultural production, markets and investment, while giving urgent consideration to high-impact routes such as the Abuja–Lokoja Road. The Summit also recommended assessing the phased feasibility of regional rail, Baro inland-port logistics, dry-port connections and modern freight systems.

Regarding social development, participants called for a disaggregated North Central human-capital and social-inclusion data system covering children, youth, women, persons with disabilities, indigent households and rural communities to guide needs-based interventions and measure outcomes.

They further recommended a safe and inclusive education framework to reduce school dropout, strengthen existing schools, address teacher shortages, improve affordability and learning quality, and provide accessible facilities, learning materials and support for persons with disabilities.

Recognising security as a major challenge to development in the region, the Summit recommended a coordinated regional security and peacebuilding framework to support statutory security institutions through timely intelligence sharing, community engagement, early warning and inter-state coordination.

It also advocated the lawful and responsible deployment of satellite imagery, drones, geospatial systems and other technology-enabled intelligence tools, backed by clear authority, safeguards and operational response protocols.

On climate and environmental challenges, participants proposed a North Central Climate and Disaster Resilience Programme, beginning with geo-referenced mapping of flood, erosion, drought, mining and other environmental hazards.

The programme should include community risk profiles, early-warning systems and effective evacuation protocols, as well as priority interventions on flooding and erosion through desilting, drainage clearing, protection of waterways, erosion control and review of dam and reservoir solutions. Participants also called for stronger enforcement against unsafe development along flood corridors.

In the area of digital economy, the Summit urged NCDC to develop an inclusive regional digital infrastructure programme to expand broadband connectivity and affordable digital access across the six states, the Federal Capital Territory, local governments, wards and underserved rural communities.

It also recommended establishing AI, digital-skills and teacher-training centres across the Mandate States, beginning with functional computer-enabled facilities in primary schools and progressively expanding access to technology-supported education.

The Summit observed that public funding alone would not be sufficient to deliver the region's development ambitions. It therefore recommended matching financing instruments to the economics and public value of individual projects, with commercially viable projects attracting private investment, projects with strong economic benefits but weaker initial returns utilising blended finance, and essential non-commercial services receiving appropriate public funding.

To provide a durable institutional framework for implementation, participants called on NCDC to give the 20-Year Plan formal legal and institutional backing through adoption, aligned state action and governance arrangements capable of sustaining implementation beyond electoral cycles.

The Summit also recommended establishing a Programme Management Office within NCDC to coordinate flagship programmes, project preparation, financing, implementation support, risk management, stakeholder engagement and performance reporting.

It further called for clearly defined responsibilities among NCDC, the Mandate States, FCT, federal institutions, local governments, traditional institutions, the private sector, communities and development partners, with an accountable owner and resource pathway for every intervention.

Earlier, NCDC signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as part of efforts to harness the agricultural and entrepreneurial potential of the region.

The agreements followed months of engagements and visits by NCDC to both agencies and are aimed at leveraging their expertise, structures and experience to unlock the agricultural potential of the North Central region, widely regarded as a major food-producing zone, while strengthening entrepreneurship and enterprise development.

NCDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, NIRSAL Executive Director Ewaen Imohe, and SMEDAN Director General Charles Odii pledged to collaborate towards making the region more economically productive and viable.

The Chairman of the NCDC Governing Board, Barr. Cosmas Akighir, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Regional Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, expressed support for the partnerships and pledged appropriate oversight.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Tsenyil thanked participants for their active and patriotic participation, noting that their contributions would help shape the performance and long-term legacy of the Commission.

Chairman of the Central Steering Committee, Alh. Suleiman Baba Ali, commended the impressive participation and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, special guests and stakeholders for making time to attend and contribute to the Summit.

He also appreciated members of the Central Steering Committee and the various sub-committees for their sacrifices, commitment and dedication towards delivering a successful Summit.