By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Federal Government says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms, infrastructure investments, and security initiatives are laying the foundation to transform the North-Central region into a booming hub for agriculture, industry, investment, and job creation.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the inaugural North-Central Stakeholders’ Development Summit, organized by the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC).
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister emphasized that the summit’s theme—”The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural, and Social Development Plan for the North-Central Region”—aligns with the administration’s vision to leverage the zone’s vast agricultural land, mineral deposits, and strategic location.
Highlighting key federal infrastructure projects, Idris listed some projects such as Benue State: Buruku-Logo Bridg, Makurdi-Gboko Road, Mararaba-Keffi road expansion and the newly commissioned $250 million Diamond New Energy lithium processing facility, rehabilitated Gwada-Shiroro Road and the approved 71km Minna-Suleja Road completion, Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri superhighway and the collaborations superhighway.
“These are not simply roads and bridges; they are economic infrastructure connecting farms to markets, reducing transportation costs, and creating opportunities for trade and investment,” Idris said.
On security, the Minister underscored the administration’s commitment to intelligence-led operations, pointing to the August rescue of 308 abducted Nigerians across Niger and Kwara states.
He also voiced support for state policing structures backed by constitutional safeguards to complement federal security forces.
Delivering the President’s message, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, tasked the NCDC to prioritize actionable projects over theoretical plans, stressing that regional development must directly impact citizens’ lives.
Similarly, the Managing Director/CEO of NCDC, Dr. Cyril Tsenyil, stated that the commission will harmonize state-level efforts into a unified regional economy driven by public-private partnerships, digital connectivity, and agro-industrial corridors.
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