Nigeria’s Ministry of Regional Development, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is set to commence nationwide zonal technical validation workshops aimed at refining Nigeria’s draft National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026–2030.
According to a joint press statement made available to journalists on Sunday, by Head, Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Sani Datti, the workshops will begin on Monday, May 11, 2026, across the country’s six geopolitical zones as part of the final nationwide consultation process.
The initiative is expected to bring together a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives of federal and state governments, Regional Development Commissions, local government authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, and traditional institutions.
The statement explained that the NRDP provides a comprehensive framework for addressing regional disparities, unlocking economic potential, and promoting inclusive and balanced national development.
Developed with technical support from UNDP, the policy aligns with national priorities and international frameworks, including the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union Agenda 2063.
Speaking on the significance of the policy, the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, described the NRDP as a strategic framework that would guide coordinated development efforts across the country.
“This policy provides the guiding framework for regional development in Nigeria. Each Development Commission is expected to derive its master plan and operational agenda from it, in line with the Ministry’s mandate to coordinate regional development efforts. Stakeholders must now engage it critically to ensure it is robust, inclusive, and implementation-ready,” the minister said.
UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, said the policy reflects a people-and inclusive development approach aimed at transforming regional diversity into national prosperity.
“The National Regional Development Policy signals a decisive shift – one that takes a people-centric and inclusive approach. At UNDP, we are proud to stand alongside the Ministry of Regional Development, Regional Development Commissions (RDCs) and state governments in advancing this ambition through our Integrated Smart States Programme (ISSP) approach”
“Through the ISSP, we are supporting a model of development that is balanced, locally driven, and connected – where trade, digital innovation, and sustainable energy converge to create jobs. By validating this approach across all six zones, Nigeria is strengthening its sovereign capability to turn regional diversity into a shared national collective advantage.” she stated.
According to the statement, the validation workshops are designed to align governments, build political ownership and provide evidence-based input on key areas, including growth hubs and corridors, financing pathways, governance arrangements, and cross-cutting priorities such as gender inclusion, climate resilience, digital transformation, and youth development.
The zonal validation workshops are scheduled to hold in Enugu for the South East on May 11, Port Harcourt for the South South on May 13, Lafia for the North Central on May 25, Ibadan for the South West on June 3, Kano for the North West on June 8, and Maiduguri for the North East on June 10.
A National Consolidation and Political Validation meeting is expected to take place in Abuja on June 24, 2026, where inputs from the six zones will be harmonised into a final policy document for submission to the Federal Executive Council.
Each zonal workshop would produce a formal communiqué and technical report to inform the national consolidation process.
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