Tinubu gave the directive while declaring open the first North Central Stakeholders Development Summit organised by the North Central Development Commission in Abuja on Monday.

The President, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume (CON), said the Federal Government would continue to provide political and financial backing to the commissions to enable them execute projects capable of unlocking the economic and industrial potential of the country.

He, however, urged the commissions not to depend solely on government funding, advising them to explore alternative sources of financing, including public-private partnerships, donor funding and development financing.

“Government will continue to give the NCDC and other Regional Development Commissions the political and financial backing to embark on key projects that will unlock the economic and industrial potentials of the nation.

“I therefore direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to ensure that all funds accruable to the Commissions are released as and when due,” he said.

Tinubu said the creation of the Regional Development Commissions was part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to accelerate development across the country and address longstanding development gaps.

He stressed that the commissions were not established to replace, duplicate or usurp the functions of any tier of government.

“Rather, it is our way of looking at why development gaps still exist and trying to close them up for the benefit of our people,” he said.

According to him, the commissions are expected to focus on development priorities capable of unlocking the potential of their respective regions while providing interconnectivity for the country.

He listed roads, rail, air transportation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and health among the sectors requiring attention.

The President urged the commissions to develop clear, concise, attainable and fundable programmes, warning against the execution of white elephant projects.

“The era of white elephant projects is over and there is no excuse for the Commissions to become another conduit for wasting public funds,” he said.

Tinubu also charged the Ministry of Regional Development to ensure that the commissions operated within the Regional Development Policy Document, while the legislature provides the necessary oversight.

He warned the boards and managements against corruption, marginalisation, politicisation and ethnicisation of government operations.

“Such actions will not be tolerated and government will not hesitate to sanction anyone found culpable,” the President said.

Speaking on the North Central region, Tinubu said the area had enormous potential in agriculture, food production and agro-processing, solid minerals development and processing, industrial development, peace and security.

He said the region had operated below its potential for too long, urging stakeholders to use the summit to chart a new development trajectory.

The President also acknowledged the security challenges confronting the North Central, saying the Federal Government had intensified surveillance and intelligence gathering, established more formations, deployed additional personnel, increased the prosecution of criminals and supported dialogue and reconciliation.

He urged the NCDC to complement the government’s efforts to stabilise the region, stressing that development could only take place in an atmosphere of peace and security.

Tinubu said the theme of the summit, “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region,” was appropriate, noting that it provided an opportunity for stakeholders to develop a consensus-driven plan for the region.

He urged participants to scrutinise the proposed development plan and ensure that it reflected the aspirations of the people and aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The President warned against allowing the summit to become another platform where ideas were discussed and reports produced without implementation.

“This Summit should not end up as one of those platforms where ideas are ventilated and reports generated only to be left dusting on the shelves. The NCDC should show a better example by following through to implementation,” he said.

Tinubu further urged the commissions to seek alternative funding sources, including public-private partnerships, donor funding and development financing, where permitted by their establishing laws and government guidelines.

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The President made this known at the Road Summit 2026 themed “Sustainable Road Infrastructure for National Growth,” where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON.

He noted that the summit was timely, coming at a period when Nigeria’s road network is under increasing strain from rapid population growth, urbanisation, rising traffic volumes, overloading, climate change and persistent flooding.

Speaking on behalf of the President, Senator Akume highlighted key road infrastructure interventions under the Tinubu administration, describing them as unprecedented investments focused on engineering excellence, long-term value and climate resilience. He cited the 780-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as a flagship project expected to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy, improve coastal connectivity and stimulate tourism, trade and industrial development. He also referenced the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, a major North–South corridor designed to open new economic frontiers and strengthen national integration.

Also addressing participants at the summit, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, represented by the Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo, said the Federal Government is fast-tracking legacy road projects while prioritising strategic economic corridors nationwide. He explained that the administration is transitioning from fragmented annual road interventions to comprehensive, long-term infrastructure planning driven by modern construction standards, innovative technologies and climate-responsive, data-driven maintenance systems. He added that the government is committed to building climate resilience through the use of durable materials and the empowerment of indigenous contractors.

In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi, emphasised that President Tinubu’s infrastructure agenda has strengthened the capacity of key agencies to effectively discharge their mandates, particularly in federal road maintenance and asset preservation.

The Road Summit 2026 was organised by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to shape the future of Nigeria’s road infrastructure through expert engagement, stakeholder collaboration and public-private partnerships aimed at addressing the nation’s road maintenance and development challenges.

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Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, said: “Buhari came into office at a time that a swathe of the country’s territory was under occupation, a period when many Nigerian towns and cities, including the capital city of Abuja, were a playground for insurgents and a moment that the nation’s wealth had been looted dry, with little or nothing to show for the nation’s huge earnings, especially
in the area of infrastructure.

Lai Mohammed said it is therefore a cruel irony that those who frittered away a great opportunity to put Nigeria on a sound socio-economic footing, at a time of financial buoyancy, and those who planted the seed of the insecurity in some parts of the country today, are the same ones pointing an accusing finger at a reformist government.

”Nigeria today faces a lot of challenges. But whatever situation the country has found itself in, things would have been much worse but for the deft management of resources, unprecedented fight against corruption, determined battle against insurgency and banditry as well as the abiding courage of Mr. President in piloting the ship of state,

”Nigeria today is not a failed state, but a nation that is courageously tackling its challenges and building a solid infrastructure that will serve as the basis for socio-economic development, a nation that is unrelenting in battling insecurity and working hard to ensure greatest prosperity for the greatest number of people,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said no government in the history of the country has done so much with so little, as the Buhari Administration is doing presently, adding that with 60% less national income, the Administration is making progress on all fronts and setting the country on the path of sustainable growth and development.

The Minister said while naysayers are hyping the instances of insecurity in the country, they have conveniently forgotten that the country could have been overrun by insurgents and bandits if President Buhari had not rallied regional and international allies to tackle, headlong, the Boko Haram insurgency that saw bombs going off like firecrackers before his assumption of office, and an estimated 20,000 square miles of the nation’s territory occupied by insurgents

Buhari came into office at a time that a swathe of the country’s territory was under occupation, a period when many Nigerian towns and cities, including the capital city of Abuja, were a playground for insurgents and a moment that the nation’s wealth had been looted dry, with little or nothing to show for the nation’s huge earnings, especially
in the area of infrastructure.

”They tout the downturn in economic fortunes without putting things in context. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a global shutdown and a drastic fall in global oil demand, Nigeria lost 60% of its earnings, yet the Administration has ensured that not a single worker has been retrenched, has paid salaries as and when due and has continued to build infrastructures like roads, rails, bridges and power, among others, that will serve many generations.

”They aggravate the national fault lines with their angry and unguarded actions and rhetoric, forgetting that while national fissures are amplified at a time of dwindling economic fortunes, what is needed to foster peace and unity is not reckless elocution but responsible and responsive leadership, the kind being offered by President Buhari,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria is on the road to greatness, despite the challenges confronting the nation, citing the hard push towards food sufficiency; the modernization of the rail system; the nationwide construction of roads and bridges; the reform in the oil and gas sector; the unprecedented anti-corruption battle, the diversification of the economy and the renewed effort to ensure a steady power supply, anchored on a three-phase project that is expected to deliver 25,000MW of electricity in the next few years.

The Minister thanked Nigerians for their perseverance and understanding, especially against the backdrop of the stifling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, and appealed to them to continue to support the Administration, as it seeks to lift 100 million people out of poverty in the next 10 years.

”In one of the most difficult moments in the nation’s history, Nigeria is fortunate to have at the helm a leader who is not only dedicated, selfless and patriotic, but one who is globally acknowledged for his discipline, integrity and vision. Those who
genuinely love Nigeria will support, rather than subvert, this committed leadership,” he said.

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