By Ben Adaji, Jalingo
The Minister of State for Regional Development, Barr. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, says the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is intensifying efforts to fast-track development across Nigeria’s North East, describing the region as central to the country’s long-term stability and growth.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Jalingo, Taraba State, the Minister stressed that the President remains deeply concerned about the historical neglect and security challenges that have slowed progress in the region.
He noted that over the past two years, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has implemented and delivered numerous community-focused projects across the six states of the zone, ranging from infrastructure to social support initiatives.
“For nearly two decades, insecurity severely undermined development in the North East,” Ahmadu said. “No meaningful progress can take place in an atmosphere of persistent violence. This administration has deliberately prioritized restoring security and is now consolidating on that progress with strategic investments in infrastructure and human capital.”
The Minister disclosed that he recently toured several project sites alongside officials of the NEDC, where they inspected, commissioned, and handed over completed projects to state governments. He described the scale of intervention as encouraging, adding that the Commission represents only one arm of the broader federal effort.
“Beyond the NEDC, multiple ministries — including Works, Education, and others — are actively delivering projects across the region. The cumulative impact points to what can rightly be described as the beginning of a major infrastructural transformation,” he stated.
Ahmadu urged residents of the North East to safeguard public infrastructure and support security agencies by providing credible information to counter criminal elements. According to him, sustainable development requires collective responsibility.
On concerns that Nigeria may be drifting toward a one-party system, the Minister dismissed the suggestion as unfounded.
“Nigeria’s size, diversity, and democratic culture make a one-party state impossible,” he said. “What we are witnessing is growing confidence in the President’s reform agenda and his readiness to take bold decisions in the national interest.”
He expressed optimism that as reforms deepen, even skeptics would come to appreciate the long-term benefits for both the North East and the country at large.
President Tinubu Pledges Renewed Push for Northeast Development – Minister
