The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has pledged its support for the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) in its efforts to drive sustainable development and unlock the economic potential of the North Central region.
The forum made the pledge during a courtesy visit by its leadership to the Managing Director of the commission, Dr Cyril Tsenyil, on Friday in Lafia.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Dr Idi Waziri, Vice Chairman of the MBF, said the visit was to congratulate the governing board and management of the commission on their appointments and commend President Bola Tinubu for establishing the NCDC.
Waziri described the establishment of the commission as timely, noting that the North Central region was confronted with challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, poverty, unemployment, humanitarian crises and limited industrial growth.
He said the creation of the commission had rekindled hope that the region’s long-standing developmental challenges would be addressed through strategic planning, collaboration and sustained stakeholder engagement.
According to him, the MBF will provide constructive advice, policy engagement and practical proposals to strengthen the commission’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the forum, Barr. Abah Ejembi, reaffirmed the MBF’s commitment to serving as a constructive watchdog and social mobiliser in support of the commission.
He urged the NCDC to prioritise critical infrastructure, particularly road, rail and inland water transport, as key drivers of economic integration and regional development.
Responding, Tsenyil described the visit as encouraging, saying it reflected the forum’s longstanding commitment to the unity and progress of the Middle Belt.
He said the commission had devoted its early months to laying a solid institutional foundation while ensuring that citizens and critical stakeholders were actively involved in shaping its programmes and priorities.
The managing director disclosed that the commission had held extensive consultations with the governors of Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue and Niger states, all of whom had expressed readiness to partner with the NCDC to achieve its development objectives.
Tsenyil said the commission was finalising a comprehensive development roadmap, which would soon be unveiled, and invited the MBF to contribute to the document and participate in the forthcoming North Central Stakeholders’ Summit.
He assured the forum that every credible recommendation aimed at enriching the commission’s development agenda would receive due consideration.
The NCDC boss also said the commission was studying the operations of older regional development commissions within and outside Nigeria to adopt global best practices.
He added that the commission would complement, rather than duplicate, the constitutional responsibilities of state and local governments.
According to him, the NCDC is also exploring alternative funding sources through strategic partnerships with the private sector, development partners and other relevant institutions to accelerate the implementation of projects across the North Central region. (NAN)
