The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for immediate and coordinated efforts to tackle escalating insecurity, poverty, and infrastructural decay in Nigeria’s North-West region.
Speaking at the inauguration of the House Committee on the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) at the National Assembly, Abbas emphasized the need for decisive intervention to prevent further deterioration in the region.
“For too long, the North-West has faced systemic neglect, worsening insecurity, and economic decline. This Commission must be the catalyst for real, measurable change,” Abbas stated.
He urged the NWDC to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and develop a 10-year strategic plan, leveraging innovative financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships and development bonds to ensure long-term sustainability.
Highlighting the devastating impact of insecurity on industries like the textile sector in Kaduna and Kano, Abbas noted that banditry and rural violence have crippled agricultural production, displaced thousands, and disrupted education across the region.
Abbas commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing regional development through initiatives like the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy and the National Livestock Transformation Plan, which has boosted livestock production by 5% annually, benefiting over 1.5 million households in the past two years.
He also praised the President’s commitment to decentralization through local government autonomy and electricity distribution reforms, and the creation of a Ministry for Regional Development, urging the NWDC to translate these policies into tangible actions.
“A prosperous North-West means a stronger Nigeria. This is a call to action for all stakeholders—state governments, traditional rulers, civil society, and the private sector. We must act now,” Abbas said.
Chairman of the House Committee on the NWDC, Hon. Gumi, pledged a transparent and results-driven approach, emphasizing the Committee’s commitment to tackling insecurity, economic stagnation, and infrastructural deficits across the seven North-West states: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“This is not just the inauguration of a committee; it is a day filled with hope and renewed determination. Our people have endured hardship for too long, but today marks a new chapter,” Gumi stated.
He outlined the Committee’s broad mandate, including monitoring NWDC activities, fostering partnerships with development agencies and the private sector, and ensuring that initiatives are people-driven, inclusive, and transparent.
Gumi emphasized that sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing the region’s security challenges, vowing to ensure the NWDC becomes a model of efficiency, accountability, and impact.
Unveiling a proposed work plan, Gumi highlighted key focus areas such as youth empowerment, infrastructural development, security enhancement, and harnessing the region’s agricultural and commercial potential for sustainable growth.
“With unity, dedication, and shared purpose, we will address challenges, seize opportunities, and create lasting change. Together, we will lay the foundation for a prosperous and thriving North-West,” Gumi concluded.
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