The Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District and former Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, has urged the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to work closely with stakeholders within and outside the region in confronting insecurity, which he described as one of the major impediments to sustainable development in the North Central.
Lalong
made the call while speaking at the first North Central Development Summit in
Abuja, where he stressed the need for a collective and coordinated approach to
tackling the security challenges confronting the region.
According
to him, insecurity in the North Central is multifaceted and therefore requires
the collaboration of governments at all levels, traditional and religious
leaders, security agencies, development partners, civil society organisations,
communities and other relevant stakeholders.
He
recalled his experiences serving as Speaker of the Plateau State House of
Assembly, Governor of Plateau State, Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum
and now as a Senator, noting that insecurity has remained a recurring challenge
that continues to undermine development efforts in the region.
Lalong
said the persistence of insecurity has affected agriculture, education,
commerce, infrastructure, investment and other productive activities, thereby
slowing down the development of the North Central and, by extension, the
nation.
He
therefore encouraged the NCDC to make security a central component of its
development planning and to establish strong partnerships with relevant
institutions and stakeholders to address the root causes and wider consequences
of insecurity.
The former
Governor expressed his delight at the successful convening of the North Central
Development Summit, describing it as an important milestone in the region's
quest for coordinated and sustainable development.
Lalong
said the summit vindicates the long-standing advocacy by stakeholders for the
establishment of a dedicated development vehicle that would focus on addressing
the peculiar developmental challenges and harnessing the enormous potential of
the North Central.
He
recalled that he was among those who actively advocated the establishment of
the Commission and also participated in the legislative process that culminated
in the passage of the law establishing the North Central Development
Commission.
He said
the emergence of the NCDC represents the realisation of a long-held aspiration
to give the region an institutional framework capable of coordinating
development interventions and attracting the partnerships and resources
required to bridge its infrastructure and socioeconomic gaps.
Lalong
commended the NCDC for bringing together political leaders, policymakers,
development experts, traditional institutions, the private sector, development
partners and other stakeholders at the summit, saying such broad-based
engagement is essential to producing a development blueprint that reflects the
needs and aspirations of the people.
He
expressed confidence that with effective collaboration, transparency, strategic
planning and sustained commitment, the NCDC can play a significant role in
unlocking the economic potential of the North Central and improving the quality
of life of its people.
The
Senator said he looks forward to supporting initiatives that will strengthen
the Commission and promote peace, security, infrastructure, human capital
development, agriculture, industry and other sectors critical to the
transformation of the region.
He urged
stakeholders to sustain the momentum generated by the summit and translate its
outcomes into concrete programmes and projects that will deliver measurable
benefits to communities across the North Central.
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