The Plateau State chairman of the Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emirs and the Gbong Gwom Jos, His Royal Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba has emphasised the importance of unity and responsibility in the appointments to the newly established North-Central Development Commission (NCDC)
Addressing newsmen in Jos, Plateau State, the traditional ruler applauded President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for signing the bill establishing the NCDC and tasked those to be appointed to work for the development of the North-Central states.
He pointed out that establishment of the Commission will reduce some of the challenges facing the North Central geo-political zone and appealed to the people of the zone to work together to ensure that the benefits of the Commission are spread across the geopolitical zone.
“When it comes to appointments into the board of the commission, we urge that they be representative of the entire North Central. Those who will be entrusted with running the commission must always remember the purpose for which it was established—development.”
The paramount ruler equally appealed to the government to address the menace of insecurity, banditry, and kidnappings, which has hindered development and affected food supply and also about the illegal mining activities in the region, which has led to environmental degradation, loss of lives, and criminal activities.
He called on the federal government to expedite action on the road from Akwanga through Jos to Bauchi and Gombe, which is in a terrible state.
“We appreciate the Federal Government for the Makurdi–Lafia–Akwanga Road to Abuja, which falls within the North-Central geopolitical zone. However, we also appeal for urgent action on the road from Akwanga through Jos to Bauchi and Gombe. This road is in a terrible state, and we appeal for swift intervention so that people can move in and out of Abuja with ease.
“This road has been a subject of discussion for too long, and we begin to wonder why there has been no action. However, with the signing of this development commission bill, we hope that this issue will soon be addressed so that we can connect with other states more efficiently”. He said.
“Currently, many people are forced to travel by air for a journey that should take 25 minutes by road, simply because the roads are in a deplorable state. This increases travel costs unnecessarily. If the roads were in good condition, people could travel with ease and reduce the cost of doing business in Abuja,” he said.
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