President Bola Tinubu has directed the timely release of funds due to Nigeria’s Regional Development Commissions, while warning their boards and managements against corruption, waste and the execution of projects that do not directly benefit the people.
Tinubu gave the directive on Monday while declaring open the first North Central Stakeholders Development Summit organised by the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) in Abuja.
The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the Federal Government would continue to provide political and financial support to the development commissions to enable them implement projects capable of unlocking the economic and industrial potential of their respective regions.
He, however, urged the commissions to reduce their dependence on government funding by exploring alternative financing options, including public-private partnerships, donor funding and development financing.
“Government will continue to give the NCDC and other Regional Development Commissions the political and financial backing to embark on key projects that will unlock the economic and industrial potentials of the nation,” Tinubu said.
“I therefore direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure that all funds accruable to the Commissions are released as and when due.”
According to the President, the establishment of the Regional Development Commissions is part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at accelerating development and addressing longstanding infrastructure and economic gaps across the country.
He stressed that the commissions were not created to replace, duplicate or usurp the responsibilities of existing tiers of government, but to complement efforts to close development gaps.
Tinubu urged the commissions to focus on projects that would unlock the potential of their regions and improve connectivity across the country, identifying roads, rail, air transportation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and healthcare as key areas requiring attention.
He also warned against the implementation of unviable projects, declaring that the era of “white elephant projects” was over.
“The era of white elephant projects is over and there is no excuse for the Commissions to become another conduit for wasting public funds,” he said.
The President further directed the Ministry of Regional Development to ensure that the commissions operate within the Regional Development Policy Document, while calling on the legislature to provide effective oversight.
He warned the boards and managements against corruption, marginalisation, politicisation and ethnicisation of government operations, saying those found culpable would face sanctions.
On the North Central region, Tinubu highlighted its potential in agriculture, food production and agro-processing, solid minerals, industrial development, peace and security.
He said the region had operated below its potential for too long and urged stakeholders at the summit to develop a clear roadmap for sustainable development.
Tinubu also acknowledged the security challenges facing the region, saying the Federal Government had intensified surveillance and intelligence gathering, established additional security formations, deployed more personnel, increased the prosecution of criminals and supported dialogue and reconciliation efforts.
He urged the NCDC to complement these measures by supporting initiatives that would promote peace and stability, stressing that meaningful development could only thrive in a secure environment.
The summit, themed “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region,” is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to develop a consensus-driven development plan for the region.
Tinubu urged participants to critically examine the proposed plan to ensure it reflects the aspirations of the people and aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He also warned against allowing the summit to end with reports and recommendations that would not be implemented.
“This Summit should not end up as one of those platforms where ideas are ventilated and reports generated only to be left dusting on the shelves. The NCDC should show a better example by following through to implementation,” he said.
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