The Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has endorsed the forthcoming North Central Stakeholders Development Summit, calling for a long-term development framework to address the region’s economic and infrastructure needs.
AbdulRazaq spoke when he received members of the Governing Board and Management of the North Central Development Commission at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
The summit is scheduled for September 14 and 15 in Abuja, with the theme: “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”
The summit is scheduled to hold in Abuja from September 14 to 15, 2026, with the theme, “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”
The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the NCDC, describing the initiative as “timely and commendable in addressing the development needs of the region.”
He said the summit would provide an opportunity to aggregate the views, aspirations and concerns of people across the North Central and develop a long-term framework for inclusive and sustainable development.
Govenror AbdulRazaq urged the Commission to prioritise critical sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, power, commerce, human capital development and entrepreneurship.
He also called for improved regional infrastructure and connectivity, particularly roads and railways, to address historical gaps that have constrained economic integration and development.
According to him, the infrastructural architecture inherited from the colonial era was largely designed around extraction, with inadequate attention to connecting communities and economic centres within the region to major national transportation corridors.
The Governor therefore encouraged the NCDC to pursue interventions that would strengthen road and rail connectivity across the North Central and improve its integration with the wider national economy.
He further advised the Commission to sustain and expand partnerships with Nigerian Government institutions, State Governments and development partners, particularly by exploring innovative financing options to improve the implementation and sustainability of development projects.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, said the visit was part of the Commission’s engagement with Governors of the seven North Central states to strengthen collaboration and align its programmes with state development priorities.
He disclosed that the NCDC Governing Board had visited Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue and Niger states, where the Governors expressed support for the Commission and pledged assistance, including office accommodation, project vehicles and other institutional requirements.
Tsenyil said; “the forthcoming summit would provide a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the future of the region and develop a comprehensive long-term development framework.”
He said the participation of the North Central Governors would help the Commission identify priority areas and develop programmes that respond directly to the needs and aspirations of the people.
The NCDC chief emphasised that the Commission considers the states partners in development, stressing that consultation, collaboration and exchange of ideas would remain central to its approach.
He stressed that the Commission was committed to working with the states to achieve the collective development objectives of the North Central region.
Tsenyil also conveyed the condolences of the NCDC Governing Board and Management to the Government and people of Kwara State over recent attacks and terrorism-related activities in parts of the state.
