Yahaya Pushes NNDC’s Reform For Northern Economic Revival

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, the Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum has said that the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) must be repositioned as a driving force for economic recovery in Northern Nigeria.

Governor Yahaya stated this while speaking at the close of a two-day retreat organised by the Board and management of NNDC in Abuja, citing rising unemployment, declining investor confidence and persistent insecurity as pressing challenges demanding urgent and coordinated action.

Represented by the director-general of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Ezekiel Gomos, Yahaya stressed that NNDC remains too strategic to the region’s future to continue operating below its full potential.

In a statement by his spokesperson Ismaila Uba Misilli, on Friday, the governor noted that the company must evolve from a passive asset-holding entity into a vibrant institution capable of stimulating growth and creating jobs.

“The North cannot afford to carry institutions that do not deliver measurable economic value,” he said.

He stressed that NNDC must now serve as a catalyst for recovery by boosting productivity, attracting investment and unlocking opportunities across key sectors.

The governor warned that efforts to tackle insecurity in the region would yield limited results without deliberate investments in job creation and economic expansion.

According to him, widespread unemployment and lack of opportunities continue to fuel instability, making economic revitalisation an urgent priority.

Yahaya expressed optimism that with bold leadership and strategic direction, NNDC could still fulfil its founding vision as a vehicle for regional development.