Stakeholders in the North Central region have adopted a 20-year development plan aimed at unlocking the region’s agricultural, mineral and human resources to drive economic growth.
The 2027–2046 North Central Development Plan was adopted at the end of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) Road Map and Stakeholders’ Development Summit held in Abuja.
The plan covers Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
The stakeholders identified fragmented planning, infrastructure deficits and insecurity as some of the major challenges limiting the region’s economic potential.
Presenting the summit communiqué, Chairman of the Technical Subcommittee, Prof. Mohammed Bashar Nuhu, said the region must move towards coordinated development that converts its abundant resources into economic opportunities.
“The North Central region has enormous agricultural land, water, mineral and energy resources, as well as significant human capital,” Nuhu said.
He said the development plan would promote state-specific agricultural value chains, with emphasis on mechanisation, irrigation, processing and market access.
The summit also recommended the creation of a GIS-enabled regional economic database to map the comparative advantages and investment opportunities across the seven-member region.
In the mining sector, stakeholders called for the formalisation of artisanal mining and the creation of organised processing clusters to increase local value addition.
They also proposed an integrated transport masterplan linking the states and the FCT through road, rail and inland waterways, with strategic corridors receiving priority attention.
On security, the stakeholders recommended a coordinated regional framework supported by early-warning systems, satellite imagery, drones and geospatial technology to protect communities, farms and economic corridors.
The plan further provides for expanded broadband infrastructure, digital skills, STEM education, vocational training and climate-resilience programmes to strengthen human capital and address environmental challenges.
NCDC Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, said the summit marked an important step towards building a shared development direction for the region.
“The transformation of the North Central region requires the collective efforts of government, the private sector, development partners, communities and other stakeholders,” Tsenyil said.
The stakeholders also recommended a dedicated Programme Management Office within the NCDC, blended financing and regular reviews to track implementation of the 20-year blueprint.
