President Bola Tinubu has warned the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and other regional development agencies against becoming vehicles for corruption, political patronage and projects with little direct impact on citizens.

The President issued the warning at the first North Central Stakeholders’ Development Summit in Abuja, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, stressing that the commissions were created to address development deficits and produce measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

Tinubu specifically cautioned against the return of “white-elephant projects”, directing the NCDC to ensure that its interventions are guided by the law, development priorities and the actual needs of communities across the region.

He also directed Akume to facilitate the immediate and timely release of funds allocated to the NCDC, while identifying transportation infrastructure, security, industrialisation, investment, education, healthcare and human capital development as areas requiring attention.

The NCDC covers Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, with a broad mandate spanning infrastructure, agriculture, employment, health, education, housing, water, electricity and telecommunications. Tinubu said the commission must therefore translate its mandate and funding into tangible development outcomes for the people of the North Central.