The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has pledged its support for the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) in the collective quest to drive sustainable development and unlock the vast potential of the North Central region.
The pledge was made when the leadership of the Forum paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil.
This was contained in a statement by Dr. Makut Simon Macham, NCDC Head, Media and Corporate Communication.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Vice Chairman of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Idi Waziri, said the visit was to congratulate the Governing Board and Management of the Commission on their appointments and to commend President Bola Tinubu, for establishing the North Central Development Commission.
He described the creation of the Commission as timely, noting that the North Central region is grappling with enormous developmental challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, rising insecurity, poverty, unemployment, humanitarian crises and limited industrial growth.
According to him, the establishment of the NCDC has rekindled hope among the people that the region’s long-standing developmental gaps will be addressed through strategic planning, collaboration and sustained engagement with stakeholders.
Dr. Waziri assured the Commission of the Forum’s unwavering support, saying the MBF would provide constructive counsel, policy engagement and practical proposals that would strengthen the Commission’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, Barr. Abah Ejembi, reaffirmed the Forum’s readiness to serve as both a constructive watchdog and a social mobiliser in support of the Commission’s success.
He observed that the NCDC has a historic responsibility to transform the region and urged it to prioritise critical infrastructure, particularly road, rail and inland water connectivity, as essential drivers of economic integration and development.
Responding, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, described the visit as encouraging and heart-warming, noting that it came from a respected organisation with a long-standing commitment to the progress and unity of the Middle Belt.
He said the Commission has devoted its early months to laying a solid institutional foundation while ensuring that citizens and critical stakeholders are actively involved in shaping its programmes and priorities.
Dr. Tsenyil disclosed that the Commission had already undertaken extensive consultations across the region, including engagements with the Governors of Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue and Niger States, all of whom have expressed readiness to partner with the Commission in achieving its developmental objectives.
The Managing Director further informed the delegation that the Commission was finalising a comprehensive development roadmap that would soon be unveiled. He invited the Middle Belt Forum to make meaningful contributions to the document and participate actively in the forthcoming North Central Stakeholders’ Summit.
He urged the Forum to continue advancing practical ideas and innovative solutions that would enrich the Commission’s development agenda, assuring them that every credible recommendation would receive due consideration.
Dr. Tsenyil also explained that the NCDC has continued to understudy the operations of older regional development commissions within and outside Nigeria in order to adopt global best practices. He stressed that the Commission would complement, rather than duplicate, the constitutional responsibilities of state and local governments.
He added that the Commission is equally exploring alternative sources of funding through strategic partnerships with the private sector, development partners and other relevant institutions to accelerate the implementation of projects across the North Central region.
