FG, UNDP move to harmonise regional development initiatives

The Federal Government and the United Nations Development Programme have intensified efforts to harmonise regional development initiatives across Nigeria through a new policy framework aimed at promoting coordinated and inclusive growth nationwide.

As part of the initiative, the Ministry of Regional Development and UNDP Nigeria will commence zonal technical validation workshops across the six geopolitical zones on Monday, May 11, 2026, to fine-tune the draft National Regional Development Policy (2026–2030).

The nationwide consultations represent the final phase of stakeholder engagement before the policy is consolidated and forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for approval.

In a joint press statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry and UNDP said the workshops would bring together representatives of federal and state governments, regional development commissions, local government authorities, civil society organisations, academia, traditional institutions, and the private sector.

The statement was signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Regional Development, Sani Datti, and UNDP Nigeria’s Public Engagement, Outreach and Partnerships Lead, Christabel Ginsberg.

According to the statement, the proposed National Regional Development Policy is designed to provide a coordinated framework for addressing regional disparities, strengthening development planning, and unlocking economic opportunities across the country.

The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, said the policy would serve as the central guide for all regional development commissions and related interventions nationwide.

“This policy provides the guiding framework for regional development in Nigeria. Each development commission is expected to derive its master plan and operational agenda from it, in line with the Ministry’s mandate to coordinate regional development efforts,” he stated.

Momoh stressed the need for stakeholders to actively participate in the validation process to ensure the framework is “robust, inclusive, and implementation-ready.”

The statement noted that the policy was developed with technical support from UNDP and aligns with Nigeria’s Medium-Term National Development Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Also speaking, the UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Elsie G. Attafuah, said the framework signals a shift towards more people-focused and locally driven development planning.

“The National Regional Development Policy signals a decisive shift — one that takes a people-centric and inclusive approach,” Attafuah said.

She explained that UNDP, through its Integrated Smart States Programme, was supporting a development model that connects trade, digital innovation, and sustainable energy to create jobs and expand opportunities across regions.

“By validating this approach across all six zones, Nigeria is strengthening its sovereign capability to turn regional diversity into a shared national collective advantage,” she added.

The validation workshops will focus on key issues including growth hubs and economic corridors, governance arrangements, financing mechanisms, digital transformation, climate resilience, gender inclusion, and youth development.

The regional consultations are scheduled to hold in Enugu for the South-East on May 11; Port Harcourt for the South-South on May 13; Lafia for the North-Central on May 25; Ibadan for the South-West on June 3; Kano for the North-West on June 8; and Maiduguri for the North-East on June 10.

A national consolidation and political validation session is expected to take place in Abuja on June 24, 2026.

The statement added that each zonal engagement will generate a communiqué and technical report to support the final harmonisation of the policy document.