Federal Govt Validates National Policy To Tackle Regional Devt Challenges

The federal government has taken a major step towards addressing persistent regional development challenges across the country by validating a National Regional Development Policy aimed at promoting balanced growth, economic transformation and social inclusion.

At a Regional Technical Validation Workshop on the National Regional Development Policy in Kano yesterday, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Regional Development, Mary Ogbe, said the policy was designed to provide a comprehensive framework for tackling developmental disparities and accelerating sustainable growth across Nigeria’s regions.

The workshop, organised by the ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together development experts, government officials and stakeholders to review and validate the draft policy before its final adoption.

Ogbe said the validation exercise was a critical stage in developing a people-centred policy that would address regional challenges while supporting the achievement of national development objectives.

According to her, the policy seeks to strengthen economic opportunities, improve social development outcomes and ensure equitable distribution of resources across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

“The validation process provides stakeholders with the opportunity to strengthen the policy framework and ensure it reflects the aspirations and developmental needs of Nigerians,” she said.

Also, the managing director of the North West Development Commission, Shehu Abdullahi, described the initiative as timely, noting that a well-structured regional development policy would help stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve living standards.

He commended the Federal Government and UNDP for facilitating the policy development process, stressing that coordinated regional planning was essential for addressing long-standing socio-economic challenges.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, represented by Enayaba Napholion, said the validation workshop was crucial to shaping an inclusive and results-oriented policy framework.

Napholion called on stakeholders to ensure the final document remains focused on citizens’ needs and delivers measurable development outcomes.

He reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting the ministry in promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development nationwide.