Federal Government Unveils Five‑Year National Regional Development Policy, Says It Will Guide Operations

• Confident it will also strengthen development planning across six geo‑political zones

The federal government has introduced a five‑year National Regional Development Policy designed to provide a strategic framework for the operations of the country’s regional development commissions.

Regional Development Minister Abubakar Momoh announced the policy yesterday at the State House in Abuja, noting that it became necessary after the inauguration of the first batch of regional development commissions in February 2025 and a second batch in August 2025.

He explained that the ministry had been functioning without a formal policy framework, even as engagement with stakeholders and development partners increased.

According to Momoh, the lack of a guiding policy became more apparent when international agencies and development partners repeatedly requested clarity on the ministry’s strategic direction.

“We came to brief the National Economic Council on the National Regional Development Policy. Since the inauguration of the first set of regional development commissions in February 2025 and the second set in August 2025, the ministry has not had a policy document to guide its operations,” he said.

“Several international and development partners requested the ministry’s policy framework, but we were unable to provide one because it did not exist. It was not that we did not appreciate the need for such a policy, but we needed to properly define the direction of the ministry. Once that became clearer, we commenced the process of developing the document,” he added.

Momoh said the policy was developed with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), while a committee headed by the Permanent Secretary coordinated the drafting process.

To ensure broad stakeholder participation and ownership, the ministry carried out consultations and validation exercises across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

He indicated that the NEC presentation marked a critical stage in the policy approval process, after which the document will be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final approval.

According to the minister, governors at the NEC meeting generally welcomed the initiative, although some raised constitutional concerns regarding the regional development commissions.

“A number of governors supported the policy and commended the initiative. Some also raised constitutional issues. However, these commissions were established through Acts of the National Assembly and duly constituted by the President,” Momoh said.

“They are institutions backed by law. For any bill to pass through the National Assembly and receive presidential assent, it means it has undergone extensive legislative scrutiny and enjoys broad national support,” he added.