By Bridget Tikyaa
The Chairman of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Barr. Cosmos Akighir, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring equitable distribution of projects and interventions across all states in the region.
He made this known on Tuesday in Lafia during a two-day Policy Review Workshop organized to review and validate the Commission’s draft Development Roadmap.
According to Akighir, the roadmap will focus on promoting regional integration, modernising agriculture, expanding infrastructure, and tackling poverty and social inequality.
“In line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the NCDC is committed to harnessing the strengths of the North Central region to drive balanced growth and ensure that development reaches every community,” he said.
He noted that the Commission’s focus would include healthcare, social services, and self-sufficiency through public-private partnerships.
“Citizens exposed to poverty are more vulnerable than those facing other forms of insecurity.
“Our roadmap seeks to lift the North Central region out of poverty and drive inclusive growth,” he added.
Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, who declared the workshop open, tasked the Commission with ensuring fairness, justice, and inclusivity in the implementation of its projects.
He described the roadmap as “a bold statement of intent” aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for sustainable growth and shared prosperity, adding that the region’s challenges, such as insecurity, infrastructural deficits, and unemployment must be addressed through collaboration and effective planning.
Momoh cautioned against concentrating projects in select areas, emphasizing that NCDC’s resources must serve the entire region. “Every community must be carried along,” he stated.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, commended the Commission’s proactive approach and assured it of the state government’s continued support.
Also speaking, the NCDC Managing Director, Dr. Cyril Tsenyil, said the workshop marked a milestone in strengthening the Commission’s institutional and operational framework ahead of its full take-off.
He revealed that since the board’s inauguration in August 2025, the Commission had held two board meetings, established 13 committees, and presented its 2025 budget proposal to the National Assembly.
The two-day workshop, supported by SPRING, is expected to produce a comprehensive roadmap and a communiqué outlining key resolutions for implementation.