***Pledges Full Support for Regional Growth
By Umar Muhammed, Lafia
The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has officially secured its first operational base after the Nasarawa State Government donated a newly refurbished office complex in Lafia—a move hailed as a catalyst for regional unity and rapid development.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, presenting the keys to the Shendam Road facility on Tuesday, described the donation as “a concrete demonstration of Nasarawa’s readiness to fast-track development across the North Central.” He thanked President Bola Tinubu for initiating the commission and praised fellow governors for rallying behind the idea, even as he promised to convene a follow-up meeting in Abuja to fine-tune collaborative strategies.
“This commission must succeed, and Nasarawa will do everything to ensure its smooth and impactful takeoff,” Sule said.
NCDC Chairman Cosmas Akighir applauded Sule’s gesture, pledging to work closely with all North Central states to confront long-standing challenges, from poverty to infrastructure deficits. He appealed for additional support, including land for a permanent headquarters and operational vehicles, citing budgetary constraints in the commission’s early stages.
Secretary to the State Government Labaran Magaji revealed the complex had been extensively renovated to meet the NCDC’s needs, fulfilling a promise Sule made during the commission’s inauguration.
Political analysts say the handover signals a new era of regional cooperation, with the Lafia office set to anchor the commission’s first projects in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the FCT in the coming months.