Tinubu Urges End to White Elephant Projects at Summit

On Monday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, opened the first North Central Stakeholders Development Summit organized by the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) in Abuja. Tinubu declared that the era of "white elephant projects" is over, urging regional commissions to prioritize projects with clear objectives, realistic funding, and measurable benefits.

He warned against corruption, political interference, and ethnic considerations in project execution, stating that officials found responsible would face sanctions. The President directed the Federal Government to ensure timely release of funds to the commissions and assured them of ongoing political and financial support.

He encouraged the commissions to seek private investments and donor funding to enhance their capacity. Tinubu identified key areas for urgent attention in the North Central region, including agriculture, industrialization, and healthcare, and called for a practical development blueprint to guide long-term growth.

The summit is focused on a proposed 20-year development plan for the region.