- Barau, Hussaini push coordinated rescue for troubled Northwest
The North West Development Commission (NWDC) yesterday convened its first stakeholders’ development summit at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Conference Centre, Kaduna, bringing together federal actors, development partners and regional stakeholders to chart a coordinated development path for the zone.
But none of the seven governors from the North-West states attended the summit in person. The governors were represented variously by their deputies, Secretaries to State Governments and commissioners.
The absence drew concern from participants, including Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Protem Chairman of the Northern Reconciliation Group, who described the development as disappointing given the significance of the summit to the region’s future.
He said it was regrettable that no governor from the zone deemed it necessary to attend personally, noting that only representatives were present despite the strategic importance of the meeting.
According to him, the summit was designed to advance a coordinated, inclusive and sustainable development agenda for the North-West through legislative leadership, state political commitment, stakeholder collaboration and alignment of development interventions.
Baba Ahmed explained that the objectives included providing a high-level platform for dialogue among federal and state actors, development partners and other critical stakeholders on priority issues affecting the region.
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He added that the forum was also intended to strengthen coordination between the National Assembly, state governments, the NWDC and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in planning and implementing development initiatives.
The summit, he said, was equally aimed at supporting the operational readiness of the NWDC and enhancing the effective delivery of its mandate through shared commitments and improved coordination structures.
He noted that discussions at the forum focused on integrated and cross-sectoral approaches to tackling key challenges such as infrastructure deficit, insecurity, agriculture, climate resilience, human capital development and economic inclusion.
Encouraging private sector participation and development partner support in financing sustainable development projects, he added, was also a major focus of the summit.
Baba Ahmed further stated that the meeting was expected to produce a practical, action-oriented communiqué to guide policy alignment, legislative backing and coordinated implementation for sustainable outcomes in the region.
Describing Kaduna as the “heart of the North,” he said it was concerning that, despite hosting such a crucial meeting on North-West development, none of the governors from the zone attended in person.
“As stakeholders, we are here to offer our support out of love for the region. Leadership is a responsibility given to deliver results. When you do well, the people will appreciate you, but when you fail, you will also be held accountable,” he said.
He, however, commended participants who attended physically and contributed meaningfully to the deliberations.
Senior lawmakers, development experts and stakeholders who graced the summit made a strong call for a coordinated economic rescue of the North West.
The summit, themed “Advancing a Coordinated Regional Development for North West Nigeria,” became a rallying point for confronting what speakers described as the region’s real problem — not lack of resources, but lack of coordination.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, declared that the North West must deliberately reposition itself to shape Nigeria’s economic direction through strong regional institutions rather than fragmented interventions.
Barau said the creation of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) was a strategic response to decades of disjointed development efforts that failed to produce systemic impact across states.
According to him, while the region remains Nigeria’s largest agricultural belt and home to tens of millions of citizens, it continues to battle insecurity, infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment, climate stress and weak access to social services.
“These challenges do not respect state boundaries; therefore, our solutions must rise above them,” he said, stressing that the summit was a call to political coordination and policy coherence.
He assured that the National Assembly would provide the legislative backing and oversight needed for the NWDC to succeed under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
