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  • Govs absent as NWDC holds inaugural Northwest Development Summit in Kaduna

    Govs absent as NWDC holds inaugural Northwest Development Summit in Kaduna

    • 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.

    Read Also: Gwarzo donates seven-storey building to NWDC as headquarters In Kano

    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.

  • Governors absent as NWDC holds inaugural summit in Kaduna

    Governors absent as NWDC holds inaugural summit in Kaduna

    The North West Development Commission (NWDC) on Saturday 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.

    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 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.

  • Why NWDC should not be hampered by funding delay

    Why NWDC should not be hampered by funding delay

    Sir: The North West Development Commission (NWDC) was established to address one of Nigeria’s most pronounced developmental disparities. Encompassing seven states, 186 local government areas, and serving over 54 million people, the Northwest represents nearly a quarter of the nation’s population. It is also the region most afflicted by insecurity, poverty, educational deprivation, climate pressures, and youth unemployment.

    In this context, the NWDC transcends the remit of a conventional intervention agency, functioning as a stabilisation mechanism whose effectiveness has direct implications for the Northwest and Nigeria’s broader stability, prosperity, and cohesion.

    Almost a year after the appointment of its board, the commission has yet to attain full operational momentum. Oversight engagements with a joint committee of the National Assembly revealed persistent internal governance tensions that have impeded progress. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, disclosed ongoing disputes regarding statutory responsibilities between the Board and Management. These disagreements have constrained decision-making and delayed the execution of essential initiatives.

    Although such frictions are not unusual during the early stages of new public bodies, they should not obscure a more pressing concern: the non-release of the commission’s take-off grant. Without this critical financial foundation, the NWDC remains structurally limited in translating its statutory mandate into tangible and measurable developmental outcomes.

    During oversight proceedings, the National Assembly emphasised the vital importance of the commission’s mission. Lawmakers noted that the Northwest bears a disproportionate share of Nigeria’s development challenges, including the highest numbers of out-of-school children, widespread banditry, kidnapping, drug abuse, arms proliferation, and environmental degradation. These challenges are not abstract; they are lived realities that disrupt livelihoods, displace communities, and escalate security expenditures.

    The NWDC was established specifically to tackle these complex and interconnected challenges. Its mandate is deliberately expansive, covering security, agriculture, education, infrastructure, health, youth and women empowerment, ecology, and mining. The commission’s approved budget, with roughly 75 per cent allocated to capital projects, demonstrates a commitment to action over bureaucratic inertia. Yet budgetary approval alone, without timely disbursement, represents legislative intention without practical implementation.

    The managing director has underscored the foundational work already undertaken. These include engagement with state governors, participation in national and international development forums, the establishment of functional organisational structures, and partnerships with major development institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, UNDP, JICA, GIZ, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Strategic initiatives, including the creation of a Northwest Investment Company and the development of power, transport, and commodity exchange platforms, reflect foresight and readiness to deliver.

    Nonetheless, strategic frameworks and partnerships cannot replace execution. Roads cannot be constructed, schools rehabilitated, security infrastructure deployed, nor agricultural productivity enhanced without adequate funding. The protracted delay in releasing the take-off grant has confined the commission to preparatory activities, reinforcing the perception that visibility has taken precedence over tangible impact.

    Read Also: Stakeholders call for review of Nigeria’s health insurance scheme

    The urgency of disbursing the take-off grant extends beyond administrative convenience; it is a matter of national interest. The Northwest functions as Nigeria’s agricultural backbone, and instability in the region undermines national food security. Insecurity diverts federal security resources, while educational deprivation contributes to chronic unemployment and social fragility. Financial empowerment of the NWDC is not a regional concession but a strategic instrument of prudent national risk management.

    The release of the grant would enhance accountability. Access to funds would enable the establishment of clear performance benchmarks, enforceable timelines, and meaningful legislative oversight. Withholding, by contrast, obscures responsibility and allows underperformance to be attributed to structural limitations rather than managerial competence.

    Addressing governance challenges and releasing the take-off grant must proceed simultaneously, as development imperatives cannot wait for administrative perfection. Equally critical is managerial cohesion. Harmonious collaboration between the Board and Management is indispensable for accelerating decision-making, optimising resource deployment, and delivering measurable results. Disunity at the top will only prolong delays, undermine public confidence, and restrict the commission’s capacity to fulfil its mandate.

    Ultimately, the success of the NWDC will be measured not by the sophistication of its strategies but by the improvements in the lives of those it serves. For the Northwest, the take-off grant represents a crucial opportunity to tackle entrenched challenges through coordinated action. For Nigeria, it is a timely and strategic investment in stability, productivity, and national cohesion that can no longer be deferred.

    •Abdulrashid Sani Gimi, PhD, Kaduna.

  • Minister sets agenda for development commissions

    Minister sets agenda for development commissions

    Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, on Thursday, urged the development commissions to work towards a common national objective of equitable and sustainable development that leaves no citizen behind in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He spoke in Lagos at the opening of a three-day ‘retreat on institutional coordination for development’.

    Its theme is: “Improving institutional coordination for better development results.”

    The participants include the management and staff of the ministry, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North East Development Commission (NEDC), South East Development Commission (SEDC), and North West Development Commission (NWDC).

    On the tasks before them, the minister said: “Our agenda must prioritise growth, bridges, transportation needs, investments, healthcare delivery, security, digital infrastructure, and youth/women empowerment.”

    To drive and sustain performance, Momoh stressed that the ministry will introduce a system of peer review among the commissions to foster healthy competition and continuous improvement.

    According to him, NEDC, SEDC, and NWDC will sign a performance bond with the ministry, with benchmarks and performance indicators against which they will be assessed.

    He urged the management and staff of the ministry and commissions to operate with the spirit of healthy competition and work in harmony.

    “As success is collective, the development of one region contributes to the stability and prosperity of the entire nation,” he said.

    Giving insight into why the agencies were created, Momoh said: “The president, in his characteristic wisdom and foresight, has prioritised regional development, planning and implementation by establishing five new regional development commissions, in addition to the two already in existence, each representing the six geo-political zones.

    “This bold initiative is anchored on a strategic commitment to development, recognising the need for a multi-sectoral approach to catalyse regional development.”

    He said the NEDC is rebuilding infrastructure and restoring hope; the SEDC is expected to catalyse economic growth, industrialisation, infrastructural development, and social integration, while the NWDC will focus on restoring stability, enhancing agricultural productivity, and rebuilding infrastructure in communities affected by banditry.

    Read Also: Minister greets women, staff on Workers Day

    He said new projects will commence while existing ones will be completed.

    Momoh said the event was an opportunity to reflect on the assignment and strengthen the synergy between the ministry and the commissions with the aim of transforming the regions into “zones of prosperity”.

    Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, said there is a plan to replicate the 50-bed hospital project in most of the commissions.

    He said the new commissions will conduct a needs assessment, adding that new projects will be initiated where necessary, while existing ones will be completed.

    According to him, the retreat was to understand each commission’s mandate and share ideas, adding that it will not be another talk shop.

    Also at the event were chairmen and managing directors of the commissions.

  • Reactions trail non-inclusion of women in board of NWDC

    Reactions trail non-inclusion of women in board of NWDC

    The exclusion of women from the newly formed Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) has sparked reactions.

    Several women expressed their concerns, calling the omission significant and highlighting that it contradicts the country’s gender policy.

    In a joint statement, prominent figures including Asma’u Joda, Saudatu Mahdi, Maryam Uwais, Aisha Oyebode, Amina Salihu, Mairo Mandara, Qadriyya Ahmed, Fatima Akilu, Rabi Jimeta, and Habiba Mohammed emphasised Northern Nigeria’s strong tradition of female leaders, professionals, and activists who have consistently advocated for socio-economic progress.

    The statement reads: “The recent announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, appointing the Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) should have been a historic step towards regional development.

    “Instead, it feels like a disheartening slap in the face of Northern Women. Not a single female name appears among the nominees forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. It goes against the grain of the National Gender Policy, the President’s promise of at least 35% affirmative action for women in his appointments and all sense of justice and equity.

    “Northern Nigeria has a rich history of formidable female leaders, professionals, and activists who have tirelessly championed socio-economic progress. Indeed, numerous women exist, who through sheer determination and resilience, have driven initiatives to educate the girl child, combat malnutrition, reduce maternal and infant mortality, as well as address sexual and gender-based violence and escalating mental health challenges.

    “In every sphere of competence, across finance and accounts, public administration, the judiciary, good governance, health, education, data analysis, business, technology, advocacy, and peace-building, you find women excelling by applying themselves in diverse fields. Their glaring absence from the NWDC Board is profoundly telling and troubling.

    “The blatant disregard of the female voice also speaks volumes about the mindset of those who are in charge of the nomination process. Indeed, it probably conveys why, in fact, the North West region is lagging furthest behind on so many human capital indices.

    “The statistics are alarming, to say the least. The multi-dimensional poverty ratings in those 7 States range from 72% to 90%. Four of those 7 States have more children out of formal school than in school. The vast majority of those States have less than 20% girl-child literacy rates. Citizens with insufficient food consumption in those States hover between 72% and 80%. What could be more telling?

    “The decision to exclude women from pivotal decision-making roles suggests a conviction in high places that the contributions and perspectives of women are inconsequential to solving these pressing problems. This glaring omission is an opportunity lost for all. And the region can only be the worst for it.

    Read Also: NWDC: ACF lauds Tinubu, says commission will remove dark clouds of underdevelopment in N’West

    “When will our leaders recognize that addressing these deep-rooted societal issues requires inclusive, diverse perspectives? While it is true that a handful of women may have already been tried and tested in the past, thousands of others do exist, that have the capacity and competencies to record huge successes in achieving sustainable development goals promptly. Our upcoming, exceptional, and passionate Northern women, excelling in every field imaginable, must be involved in efforts at positively transforming the region.

    “The exclusion of our young women from such critical governance roles speaks not only to a deplorable, inexcusable failure at harnessing their energy, brilliance, and potential, it also undermines the very real possibilities for swift, holistic, and sustainable development.

    “The promise of development through the NWDC can only be fulfilled if it embodies true representation and inclusivity. If we are to effectively confront the myriad of socio-economic challenges in the North, it is essential to harness the expertise and insights of all members of our society, and for peacebuilding, particularly women who command respect within the communities. Who possess innate negotiating skills, compassion, and grassroots experience to achieve scale, impact, and sustainability.

    “But is anyone listening? Do we truly yearn for development, stability, and peace, or is this North West Development Commission merely a statement about political ambitions, and procurement? Well, as the Hausa proverb implies: ‘the Friday that heralds hope could be discerned from the Wednesday before.”

  • NWDC Bill scales first reading at Senate

    NWDC Bill scales first reading at Senate

    Bill seeking to establish the North West Development Commission (NWDC) scaled the first reading yesterday at the Senate.

    The Bill, titled: “North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023”, was sponsored by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau.

    The Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, read the short title of the Bill during plenary.

    A statement by the Media Office of the Deputy Senate President said the commission, when established, would accelerate the development of the commercial and industrial potentials of the Northwest, comprising seven states – Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

    The Bill also stipulates that the NWDC, when established, would receive and manage funds for the agricultural and industrial development of the Northwest.

    Read Also: Woman flees after killing husband with pestle in Ondo

    In the last 10 years, Northwest state, especially Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, have been battling with security challenges, thereby retarding their development.

    The proposed commission is expected to formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the zone, particularly in the areas of roads, education, health, employment, industrialisation, agriculture, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity, and commerce.

    The Bill is to be listed for a second reading for deliberation on its general merits and principles.