The Federal Government has charted a new course for accelerated regional development following a two-day sectoral retreat organised by the Ministry of Regional Development alongside the Regional Development Commissions in Benin City, Edo State.
The retreat, themed “Generating Fresh Ideas to Unlock the Potential of the Regions,” brought together commission leaders, National Assembly members, development partners, and senior public officials to strengthen governance, improve collaboration, and expand financing options for sustainable growth.
Deliberations centred on reforming Nigeria’s regional development framework to deliver measurable economic outcomes. Participants stressed strict compliance with established governance standards to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public service delivery.
Key resolutions include strengthening board oversight, aligning procurement plans with budgets, and institutionalising capacity-building programmes. The commissions were also urged to pursue economic diversification by investing in revenue-generating ventures and expanding skills development initiatives in agriculture and small-scale enterprises to boost job creation.
Stakeholder engagement was identified as essential, with plans to involve governors, traditional institutions, youth groups, and women’s organisations in planning and implementation processes.
Infrastructure development remains a top priority, with a focus on improving power supply, transport systems, industrial hubs, and logistics networks to drive trade and competitiveness.
The Ministry also pledged stronger collaboration with development partners, including plans to host a Development Partner Engagement Forum within six months and appoint dedicated officers in each commission to attract international funding aligned with climate and development goals.
At the close of the retreat, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, emphasised accountability, coordination, and performance tracking as critical to achieving results.
The retreat further highlighted the urgency of implementing the National Regional Development Policy (2026–2030), with plans to establish an inter-agency committee to oversee execution.
Overall, the outcomes signal a shift toward a more coordinated, transparent, and results-driven approach to regional development in Nigeria.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
