Senator Lalong urges NCDC to mobilise stakeholders against insecurity, hails success of north central development summit

Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District and former Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, has urged the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) to work closely with stakeholders within and outside the region in confronting insecurity, which he described as one of the major impediments to sustainable development in the North Central.

Lalong made the call while speaking at the first North Central Development Summit in Abuja, where he stressed the need for a collective and coordinated approach to tackling the security challenges confronting the region.

According to him, insecurity in the North Central is multifaceted and therefore requires the collaboration of governments at all levels, traditional and religious leaders, security agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, communities and other relevant stakeholders.

He recalled his experiences serving as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Governor of Plateau State, Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and now as a Senator, noting that insecurity has remained a recurring challenge that continues to undermine development efforts in the region.

Lalong said the persistence of insecurity has affected agriculture, education, commerce, infrastructure, investment and other productive activities, thereby slowing down the development of the North Central and, by extension, the nation.

He therefore encouraged the NCDC to make security a central component of its development planning and to establish strong partnerships with relevant institutions and stakeholders to address the root causes and wider consequences of insecurity.

The former Governor expressed his delight at the successful convening of the North Central Development Summit, describing it as an important milestone in the region’s quest for coordinated and sustainable development.

Lalong said the summit vindicates the long-standing advocacy by stakeholders for the establishment of a dedicated development vehicle that would focus on addressing the peculiar developmental challenges and harnessing the enormous potential of the North Central.

He recalled that he was among those who actively advocated the establishment of the Commission and also participated in the legislative process that culminated in the passage of the law establishing the North Central Development Commission.

He said the emergence of the NCDC represents the realisation of a long-held aspiration to give the region an institutional framework capable of coordinating development interventions and attracting the partnerships and resources required to bridge its infrastructure and socioeconomic gaps.

Lalong commended the NCDC for bringing together political leaders, policymakers, development experts, traditional institutions, the private sector, development partners and other stakeholders at the summit, saying such broad-based engagement is essential to producing a development blueprint that reflects the needs and aspirations of the people.

He expressed confidence that with effective collaboration, transparency, strategic planning and sustained commitment, the NCDC can play a significant role in unlocking the economic potential of the North Central and improving the quality of life of its people.

The Senator said he looks forward to supporting initiatives that will strengthen the Commission and promote peace, security, infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture, industry and other sectors critical to the transformation of the region.

He urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum generated by the summit and translate its outcomes into concrete programmes and projects that will deliver measurable benefits to communities across the North Central.