FIC Report (Nasarawa State) – The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) says it will align its proposed strategic roadmap with the National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026–2030 currently undergoing validation.
Dr Cyril Tsenyil, Managing Director of the commission, stated this in Lafia, the state Capital at the Regional Technical Validation Workshop on the NRDP.
Tsenyil said that, the policy would strengthen the commission’s capacity to drive strategic development priorities capable of transforming the North Central region in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the policy represents a bold framework aimed at promoting balanced territorial development, strengthening regional competitiveness, enhancing intergovernmental coordination and ensuring inclusive national prosperity.
He explained that the NCDC had continued to develop frameworks for its interventions, adding that the implementation of the policy would further enhance the commission’s mandate and operations.
The managing director stressed that the commission stood to achieve more through collaboration and synergy with other regional development commissions, especially in infrastructure, security, investment, human capital development and productivity.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Regional Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Albert Asotibe, said the North Central workshop was the third in a series of regional validation engagements.
Ogbe said similar exercises had earlier been held in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.
She explained that the NRDP was designed to provide a coordinated roadmap for regional development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to her, once fully developed and approved by the Federal Executive Council, the policy will serve as a guide for the operations of regional development commissions to ensure synergy and national integration.
The UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah, represented by a Policy Specialist, Dr Sola, described the policy initiative as inclusive and people-oriented.
He said the initiative would provide citizens opportunities to actively participate in shaping the development of their regions through constructive engagement and contributions.
Sola added that the success of the policy would largely depend on public ownership, with development commissions serving as key drivers of implementation.
Participants at the workshop were urged to contribute meaningfully toward enriching the draft policy to ensure rapid and sustainable development across the regions.
The workshop later proceeded into technical sessions where the lead consultant presented an overview of the draft NRDP document.
Participants raised issues bordering on project conception and needs assessment, funding mechanisms, public-private partnerships, institutional discipline, monitoring and evaluation, grassroots participation and equitable distribution of projects across the regions.
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
HEAD OF CENTRE,
FIC, LAFIA.
