Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh has promised enhance regulatory frameworks and policy measures towards strengthening economic growth and revitalising regions across the country.
Engr. Momoh stated this at a three-day sectoral retreat of the ministry in Lagos, where he reaffirmed the commitment of the ministry to fostering a structured approach to regional development.
The retreat, themed: “Improving Institutional Coordination for Better Development Results,” brought the six regional development commissions together towards improving institutional synergy, strengthen policy implementation, and promoting strategic collaboration.
The Minister, together with the Minister of State in the ministry, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, noted that for years, Nigeria lacked a specific, well-formulated regional development policy framework that can propel the country towards economic emancipation and all-encompassing development.
This, they said, underscored the urgency and relevance of strengthening the synergy between the Ministry of Regional Development and all the Regional Development Commissions.
The development commissions include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NEDC), Northeast Development Commission (NEDC), Southeast Development Commission (SEDC), and Northwest Development Commission (NWDC) in addition to those that will soon been on-board.
Momoh emphasised the need for a legal framework to empower regional commissions, stating that their current reliance on federal decisions limits their autonomy.
“The challenge we have in this current commission is that there is no legal framework for them to operate,” Momoh said. “The commissions themselves lack constitutional or legislative power to make decisions independently. They rely on directives from the federal level.”
The minister drew parallels with countries like China, Japan, and India, where regions plays significant roles in development.
However, he acknowledged that not all models could be directly applied to Nigeria’s system.
Both ministers assured that efforts are underway to establish a policy framework that enhances the commissions’ ability to fulfill their mandates.
“Development must be people-driven, measurable, and impactful,” Momoh stated. “We envision a future where neglect and conflict are replaced by thriving communities, vibrant economies, and resilient institutions.”
For his part, the Minister of State, Ahmadu, stressed the importance of strategic planning, noting that effective development requires proper coordination between the ministry and commissions.
“Every successful initiative requires proper planning,” he said. “Our first step is to convene industry leaders, bureaucrats, and political appointees, including managing directors, board chairmen, and commission members to align our collective vision.”
In order to ensure accountability, Ahmadu outlined mechanisms to monitor implementation efforts within the ministry. “We have a structure in place to oversee activities of the commissions,” he said. “Resources should not be wasted, we must ensure meaningful execution.”
He stated that the ministry will prioritise new projects where needed, pointing to the Northwest Development Commission, which recently launched some projects, saying officials would conduct a needs assessment tour to determine priority areas.
“For example, the Northeast Development Commission already has several ongoing projects,” he said. “This is not the time to waste resources—we will assess each region’s specific needs and match them with available resources.”
