Tinubu orders release of funds to regional commissions

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to release all funds approved for the regional commissions. This directive was given during the North Central Development Commission summit, which focused on a 20-year economic infrastructure and social development plan for the North Central region.

The creation of regional development commissions is part of the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at accelerating development across the country. Akume emphasized that the government would continue to provide political and financial support to the North Central Development Commission and other regional commissions for key projects that will unlock the nation's economic and industrial potential.

He urged the commissions to explore public-private partnerships, donor funding, and development financing for transformative projects, while warning against corruption, marginalization, politicization, and misuse of government resources. The North Central Development Commission is expected to focus on major projects in rail, air transportation, industrialization, security, investment, human capital development, education, and health.

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, the Chairman of the North Central Governors' Forum, highlighted the region's human and natural resources, emphasizing the need to transition from raw material extraction to processing and value addition. Sule also commended the Tinubu administration's economic reforms, which have increased revenues available to federal, state, and local governments.