FG Advocates Coordinated Approach for Regional Development

The Federal Government of Nigeria is promoting a coordinated approach to regional development to address issues of project duplication and inter-agency rivalry that have led to abandoned initiatives across the country. At a retreat held in Benin City, Edo State, Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of State for Regional Development, highlighted the importance of creating a harmonized framework to align plans and funding for implementation across various commissions and ministries.

He stated that henceforth, there will be strict enforcement of project continuity and completion benchmarks, with new projects requiring approval only if they substantiate existing efforts. The retreat also served to strengthen synergies among ministries and agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President, has designed this initiative to drive geo-spatial development and ensure balanced economic transformation across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. Jide Ipinsagba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Regional Development, noted that uneven development remains a significant impediment to national prosperity.