The Ministry of Regional Development Nigeria, the Niger Delta Development Commission and other regional development commissions have agreed to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders to address development gaps and reduce the incidence of abandoned projects.
The resolution was reached at the end of a three-day retreat held in Benin City, where top government officials and heads of development commissions reviewed strategies for improving project delivery and institutional performance.
The retreat, chaired by the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, brought together key stakeholders, including the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, and the Commission’s Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku.
Presenting the communiqué, Director of Planning and Research at the ministry, Victor Ewache, said participants agreed on a range of measures aimed at improving coordination, accountability and development impact across regions.
Key among the resolutions is a planned review of the commissions’ Establishment Acts to address structural gaps and strengthen performance, alongside the adoption of a draft National Policy on Regional Development.
The communiqué also highlighted the need for commissions to prioritise projects based on strategic infrastructure investments aligned with the federal government’s development agenda, while leveraging partnerships with international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme for funding support.
Participants further agreed that leadership of the commissions would sign performance bonds to ensure accountability and deliver measurable outcomes, particularly in projects aimed at reducing poverty.
In addition, the meeting stressed strict compliance with Treasury Single Account (TSA) regulations and improved adherence to existing legal frameworks guiding the operations of development commissions.
Speaking at the close of the retreat, Momoh described the deliberations as “robust and forward-looking,” noting that the quality of contributions underscored the need for stricter compliance with statutory mandates.
He said the planned review of the commissions’ legal frameworks would help strengthen institutional effectiveness and improve service delivery.
As part of the closing events, Momoh and Ogbuku received awards for “outstanding development and impact” from the Association of Edo Youths for Peace. The group’s chairman, Aminu Imafidor, described the two officials as dynamic leaders committed to regional development.
The resolutions signal a renewed push by development agencies to improve coordination, attract funding and deliver sustainable infrastructure across Nigeria’s regions.