Abubakar Mohammed, Maiduguri
The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has reaffirmed the Northern Governors’ Forum’s commitment to reposition the New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC) as a catalyst for regional economic growth.
Governor Zulum chairs the Implementation Committee tasked with driving the revitalisation process, alongside the governors of Kwara, Zamfara, and Plateau States.
The NNDC, currently inactive, will be transformed into a leading development finance institution to stimulate commercial and industrial growth across the 19 Northern states through strategic investments and a diversified portfolio.
At the committee’s inaugural meeting on Monday, held at the Kaduna State Secretariat, Governor Zulum expressed gratitude to the Northern Governors’ Forum for entrusting the committee with the responsibility of restructuring the NNDC.
He recalled that a Technical Committee had been set up in 2018 to examine the company’s restructuring needs.
“Let me commend the Northern Governors’ Forum for setting up this very important committee to bring NNDC back on stream,” Zulum said.
“Our mandate is to ensure smooth execution in line with global best practices.”
Governor Zulum assured the management and staff that the committee would work tirelessly to restore NNDC to its full potential, describing the company as the strongest economic legacy uniting the 19 Northern states.
He emphasised the importance of preserving its landmark 10-storey headquarters in Kaduna.
He also pledged that the restructuring would address both institutional challenges and staff welfare, with a feedback mechanism introduced to ensure staff participation in the process.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Governors Mani Malam Mummuni (Zamfara), Kayode Alabi (Kwara), and Josephine Piyo (Plateau), as well as the Acting Chief of Staff to the Borno State Governor, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe.
Also present were the NNDC Group Managing Director/CEO, Shehu Usman Mai-Bornu; Executive Director, Management Services, Abdulkareem Mohammed Sani; and Executive Director, Investment Supervision, Khalil Alhassan Hamzat.