Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has called on the North West Development Commission (NWDC) to work closely with governors of the geopolitical zone to ensure the success of its programmes and interventions.
The governor made the call while receiving members of the Commission’s board, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Samaila Abdullahi, during a courtesy visit to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna.
Governor Sani emphasised that state governors, being closer to the people and fully aware of the region’s challenges, must be actively involved in the planning and execution of any development agenda put forward by the Commission.
“As elected governors, we know where our region is lagging behind,” the governor said. “If you come up with programmes without involving us to have a common agenda, they may not succeed. The people will not own such programmes, and without our input, they won’t get the support they need — no matter how well-intentioned they are.”
He advised the Commission to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment by engaging with communities through town hall meetings and seeking inputs from state governments. Governor Sani assured the board of the governors’ full support once the right framework for collaboration is established.
“I know you’re engaging other stakeholders, but in this situation, there are no more critical stakeholders than the governors. We are ready to give you 100% support, but we must be involved from the beginning,” he stressed.
He encouraged the NWDC board to present their proposed programmes so the North West governors can meet, review, and make contributions that align with each state’s specific development needs.
Responding, the Chairman of the NWDC, Alhaji Lawal Samaila Abdullahi, expressed appreciation for the governor’s frank remarks and pledged the Commission’s loyalty and commitment to working under the guidance of the region’s governors.
“Our mandate is based on intervention, collaboration, and support,” he stated. “We are ready to assist in every area of national development that will benefit our people, provided we have the governors’ backing.”
Abdullahi acknowledged that while some initial challenges have been addressed, the Commission is still in its take-off phase. However, he assured that operations would commence fully in the coming months.
He also disclosed that the Commission plans to collaborate with the governors to develop a 10-year strategic development plan for the North West, which will be achieved through collective input and implementation.
“We will reach out to all governors through your leadership so we can chart a common development path for the zone,” Abdullahi concluded.
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