FG sets new plan for regional development

The Federal Government has charted a decisive course for accelerated regional development following the conclusion of the 2026 Sectoral Retreat convened by the Ministry of Regional Development in collaboration with the Regional Development Commissions in Benin, Edo State.

The two-day high-level retreat, themed “Generating Fresh Ideas to Unlock the Potential of the Regions,” brought together key stakeholders across government, including the leadership of the seven Regional Development Commissions, members of the National Assembly, development partners, and senior public sector officials.

Deliberations at the retreat focused on strengthening governance systems, enhancing institutional collaboration, and unlocking innovative financing pathways for sustainable development across the regions.

A major consensus reached at the gathering was the urgent need to reposition Nigeria’s regional development architecture to deliver measurable economic impact.

Participants stressed strict compliance with extant governance frameworks such as the Public Procurement Act, Public Service Rules, international accounting standards, and the Code of Conduct to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public service delivery.

The retreat also produced far-reaching resolutions aimed at transforming the operations of the Regional Development Commissions.

Key among them are the strengthening of oversight functions of governing boards, the institutionalisation of capacity-building programmes, and the alignment of annual procurement plans with budget cycles.

In a push for economic diversification and self-sufficiency, the commissions were directed to invest in revenue-generating ventures beyond statutory allocations.

Emphasis was also placed on scaling up skills acquisition programmes in agriculture and small-scale enterprise development to stimulate job creation and boost local economies.

Stakeholder engagement was equally highlighted as critical to success, with participants advocating structured consultations involving state governors, traditional rulers, youth groups, and women’s associations in the planning and execution of budgets, projects, and service delivery.

Infrastructure development emerged as a top priority, with calls for increased investment in electricity generation, intermodal transport systems, industrial clusters, and logistics networks to enhance trade and regional competitiveness.

The Ministry also underscored the importance of stronger collaboration with development partners, announcing plans to convene a Development Partner Engagement Forum within the next six months.

Each commission is expected to designate a focal officer to facilitate access to international funding, grants, and concessional financing aligned with climate resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Speaking at the close of the retreat, the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to coordinated and result-oriented development.

“We must strengthen regular, close coordination between the Ministry, the Commissions, board members, and management through smaller, more frequent engagements,” he said.

“Going forward, all our actions will be firmly tied to deliverables assigned at the beginning of the year. Once a Managing Director signs a performance bond, accountability becomes non-negotiable.”

The retreat also underscored the urgency of finalising and implementing the National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026–2030 as a central framework to guide strategic planning, annual work programmes, and budget execution across all commissions.

An inter-agency implementation committee is expected to be established to monitor progress and ensure policy coherence.

With clear timelines, actionable reforms, and renewed political will, the outcomes of the retreat signal a significant shift towards a more coordinated, transparent, and impact-driven regional development agenda for Nigeria.