Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf of Kano State, has inaugurated the state office of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC), and called for equitable distribution of development projects across the seven North-West states.
Kabir-Yusuf, who made the call on Thursday in Kano, stressed the need for the commission to operate with transparency, accountability and fairness.
The governor said the commission would complement the efforts of state governments in tackling infrastructure deficits, poverty and insecurity in the region.
He described the establishment of the commission as a timely intervention, noting that the North-West has continued to grapple with security challenges that had displaced many residents and affected livelihoods.
The governor urged the commission’s board and management to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring prudent management of resources and close collaboration with state governments.
He further called for giving additional attention to states facing emergency situations caused by insecurity.
The governor, who assured the commission of the support of Kano and other North-West governors, expressed optimism that the agency would accelerate socio-economic development across the region.
The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, commended the Kano government for donating the office, saying the gesture had resolved the commission’s immediate accommodation challenge, and provided a conducive environment for its operations.
Momoh said the commission was established to complement state governments in bridging infrastructure gaps and improving the living conditions of people, adding that efforts were underway to strengthen its operational structure.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari-Ahmadu, said the Federal Government had approved funding for the regional development commissions.
According to him, the NWDC will support interventions in agriculture, healthcare, housing, youth empowerment and skills development.
Chairman of the NWDC Governing Board, Lawal Sama’ila-Abdullahi, described Kano as the first state to provide office accommodation, operational vehicles and land for the commission’s permanent regional headquarters, and commended it for the support.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the Commission, Prof. Shehu Ma’aji, disclosed that Kano had also donated a two-hectare parcel of land valued at about N3 billion for the construction of the commission’s permanent regional headquarters, with the Certificate of Occupancy being processed.
Ma’aji said the commission would soon begin implementing programmes on youth empowerment, agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure development, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability, among others
He assured stakeholders that the commission would ensure transparency, accountability in all its dealings.(NAN)
