NCDC Unveils Ambitious Development Agenda for North-Central Region
The North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) has launched a comprehensive roadmap aimed at driving inclusive and sustainable growth across Nigeria’s North-Central geopolitical zone.
At a two-day policy-review workshop held in Lafia, stakeholders laid out the commission’s priorities in critical sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, health, education, housing, power, and industrialisation.
The development plan also emphasises solid mineral development, proposing collaboration with state governments and relevant agencies to promote responsible mining, form community-based cooperatives, and enhance local value extraction.
To address youth unemployment and social inclusion, NCDC will initiate empowerment programmes targeting young people, women, and persons with disabilities, while also establishing a regional innovation hub to boost digital skills and entrepreneurial activity.
Security and peace-building are central to the agenda: the commission intends to work with traditional leaders, community groups, and security agencies on conflict prevention, post-conflict rehabilitation, and community-based interventions.
In his address, NCDC Managing Director Dr Cyril Tsenyil emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in executing the roadmap, promising institutional mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation.
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, called for equitable distribution of projects across all North-Central states, urging the commission to ensure that no state is left out.
Development partners are also being tapped, with the commission pledging to deepen partnerships with civil society organisations, private investors, and international agencies for technical and financial support.
Officials say the blueprint aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” positioning the NCDC as a pivotal institution to address longstanding regional challenges — including infrastructural deficits, ecological degradation, insecurity, and youth disenfranchisement.