Tinubu ordered the immediate release of funds to the regional commission

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to ensure that funds approved for Nigeria’s regional development commission are disbursed when due.

The President issued the directive on Monday while addressing the North Central Development Commission Summit, held under the theme, “Great Leap Forward: 20-Year Economic and Social Infrastructure Development Plan for the North Central Region.”

Akume, who represented Tinubu at the summit, said the establishment of the regional development commission was part of the Federal Government’s New Hope Agenda to accelerate development and unlock economic opportunities across the country.

The President promised continued political and financial support for these commissions, especially in implementing projects capable of stimulating economic and industrial growth.

“The government will continue to provide political and financial support to the NCDC and other Regional Development Commissions to initiate important projects that will unlock the country’s economic and industrial potential.

“I, therefore, direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure that all funds obtained by the Commission are disbursed when due,” he said.

Tinubu however warned the commission against relying solely on government allocations, and urged them to seek additional funding through public-private partnerships, donor agencies and development finance institutions.

He said the commissions should channel their resources into strategic projects covering rail transport, aviation, industrialization, security, investment, human resource development, education and health.

The President also issued a stern warning to the commission’s board and management team against corruption, discrimination, political interference and diversion or misuse of public resources.

“Such acts will not be tolerated, and the government will not hesitate to impose sanctions on anyone found guilty,” he said.

Also read: The Church must not side with any political party – Former Governor Fayemi

Tinubu emphasized that the regional commissions were created to complement, not take over, the responsibilities of state and local governments or duplicate the functions of existing Federal Government agencies.

He specifically tasked the North Central Development Commission to support initiatives aimed at addressing insecurity in the region, and noted that sustainable economic development would be difficult to achieve without peace and stability.

Nasarawa State Governor and Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum, Abdullahi Sule, says the region has the necessary resources and economic potential to become a major driver of Nigeria’s development.

Sule pointed to the region’s strengths in agriculture, mining and industrial production, but argued that greater emphasis should be placed on processing raw materials locally rather than exporting them in unprocessed form.

“If you mine in North Central, it must also be processed in North Central,” said the Governor.

He cited the establishment of a cement factory in Kogi State as an example of how converting locally sourced raw materials into finished products can generate greater economic value and create jobs.

Sule also recalled that Nasarawa State had more than 400 steel permits when he took office in 2019, but had no processing plants to exploit its mineral resources.

According to him, the situation has changed, with the state now hosting the largest and second largest lithium processing plant in Nigeria.

The governor said the North Central region has abundant resources capable of supporting agriculture and industrialization.

“North Central is the home of Benue cement. North Central is the home of rice production. North Central is the home of sesame production. So we have it all. Whatever we are looking for, we have it,” said Sule.

He said the key requirement is leadership capable of developing ambitious long-term strategies and ensuring their effective implementation.

“What do we need more? We need thinkers. We need implementers. We need people who understand what it means to lead,” he said.

Sule also praised the economic reforms undertaken by the Tinubu government, arguing that they had increased the revenues available to the three tiers of government.

“Today, we pay salaries without borrowing money from banks. Even if you hate him, you can’t hate his policies. Even if you don’t agree with him, you can’t disagree with his policies. And that’s the only way we can build,” he said.

Previously, the Chief Executive of the North Central Development Commission, Cyril Tsenyil, explained that the commission was formed to coordinate development across the region, mobilize resources and build partnerships.

Tsenyil stressed that the commission is not intended to replace the six state governments and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said the commission’s 20-year development blueprint would prioritize regional economic corridors, processing of agricultural and mineral resources, infrastructure development and the creation of opportunities for young Nigerians.

Tsenyil said the North Central region should aim to go beyond being recognized as Nigeria’s agricultural hub, arguing that the region has the potential to become one of the most competitive agricultural economies in Africa.