Meeting with President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Monday met with the Minister of Regional Development and the leadership of seven development commissions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where plans were announced to deepen collaboration with the state governments to tackle insecurity and improve critical infrastructure, including roads across the country’s geo-political zones.
Objective of the Meeting
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said that although the commissions are not the chief executives of their respective regions, they are mandated to complement both federal and state efforts, particularly in addressing security challenges. He noted that existing commissions are already contributing to regional road development, adding that similar interventions are expected as newly established commissions become fully operational.
Collaboration with State Governments
“The commissions will work side by side with state governments to address insecurity in their regions. It is part of their core mandate. They are not the chief executives of the states, but they will complement the work of other levels of government,” Momoh said. The Minister cited ongoing interventions by state governments on federal highways, such as repairs on a 10-kilometre stretch of the Benin-Warri Road in Delta State and work on the Sapele-Ogorode corridor in Edo State, as examples of proactive collaboration that should be replicated nationwide.
Poor Condition of Roads
He attributed the poor condition of many roads to a long-standing neglect of maintenance, noting that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) “for more than eight to ten years was not fully alive to its responsibilities.” Momoh said the development commissions have adopted a four-phase master plan for rebuilding and linking economic clusters across the regions. The first phase focused on security, followed by sustainability, while the ongoing third phase prioritises infrastructure to expand market access and drive community renewal.
Funding for Newly Established Commissions
Responding to a question on why some of the newly established commissions had yet to receive take-off funding, the Minister said it was part of the reason for their meeting with President Tinubu at the Villa. “It is part of my address, and that is one of the reasons we met with Mr. President. And that issue is being looked into properly. I think, in a very short time. You will hear from us,” Momoh added.
North Central Development Commission
The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) is one of the newly established commissions yet to secure its take-off funding budget. Chairman of the NCDC board, Barrister Cosmas Akighir, confirmed to our correspondent on the sidelines of the press briefing that a total of N140 billion, being the commission’s initial annual budget, had yet to be released, presenting a major challenge. “We have an envelope budget of N140 billion, but nothing has been released to us. That is the challenge.
Progress of Other Commissions
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta region is the result of community-driven development anchored on needs assessments and broad stakeholder engagement. He noted that virtually every community in the region, including hard-to-reach riverine settlements, now hosts at least one project. Also speaking, Managing Director of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammad Goni Alkali, disclosed that about four major bridges and nearly 80 roads are currently under construction, with particular focus on areas recovering from insurgency.
Conclusion
The meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the development commissions is a significant step towards addressing the country’s infrastructure and security challenges. The collaboration between the federal government and state governments, as well as the commissions, is expected to yield positive results in the coming months. With the adoption of a four-phase master plan and the allocation of funds to the newly established commissions, the country can expect to see improvements in critical infrastructure, including roads, and a reduction in insecurity.
FAQs
- What was the purpose of the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the development commissions?
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss plans to deepen collaboration with state governments to tackle insecurity and improve critical infrastructure, including roads across the country’s geo-political zones. - How much is the initial annual budget of the North Central Development Commission?
The initial annual budget of the North Central Development Commission is N140 billion. - What is the current state of road construction in the North East region?
About four major bridges and nearly 80 roads are currently under construction in the North East region, with a particular focus on areas recovering from insurgency. - What is the approach used by the Niger Delta Development Commission in selecting projects?
The Niger Delta Development Commission uses a participatory approach involving state governments, youth groups, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in selecting projects.
