NEWS
NCDC Unveils 20-Year Plan for Regional Transformation
By David Torough, Abuja
The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) has unveiled a draft 20-year development plan aimed at transforming Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory into a more productive, connected, inclusive, secure, resilient and digitally enabled region.
The plan, covering 2027 to 2046, was presented at the NCDC Road Map and Stakeholders’ Development Summit held in Abuja from September 14 to 15, 2026, under the theme, “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.
”The summit attracted 862 physical participants and 49 online participants, including representatives of the Federal Government, governors of the six mandate states and the FCT, members of the National Assembly, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, the private sector, academia, civil society, youth and women groups, professional bodies and the media.
In the communiqué adopted at the close of the summit, participants said the region had substantial agricultural land, water, mineral and energy resources, human capital, markets and a strategic location, but had not consistently converted these assets into higher productivity, incomes, industrial capacity and improved social outcomes.
They identified fragmented planning, weak inter-state connectivity, insecurity, infrastructure deficits, limited value addition, unreliable data and inconsistent implementation as major constraints to regional development.
The summit consequently called for the NCDC to serve principally as a regional coordinator, investment catalyst and development enabler, while governments, communities, investors and other partners take clearly defined roles in implementing the plan.
On the economy, participants recommended the creation of a GIS-enabled regional economic database to map productive assets, agricultural resources, minerals, infrastructure gaps and investment opportunities.
They also called for the development of state-specific agricultural and livestock value chains, greater mechanisation and irrigation, improved storage and processing, and stronger export capacity.
The communiqué further recommended the formalisation of artisanal mining and the development of mineral-processing and manufacturing clusters to retain more value, employment and public revenue within the region.
Support for micro, small and medium enterprises and industrial clusters through skills development, affordable finance, market access and investor incentives was also proposed.
On infrastructure, the summit recommended an integrated regional programme linking the states and FCT through roads, rail, inland waterways and logistics systems.
It specifically called for urgent consideration of high-impact corridors, including the Abuja-Lokoja Road, alongside phased feasibility studies for regional rail, Baro inland-port logistics, dry-port connections and modern freight systems.
Participants also proposed a regional energy programme, improved public water supply and irrigation, and greater attention to climate resilience, security, operations and maintenance in infrastructure planning.
The social-development component of the plan focuses on education, skills, healthcare and economic inclusion. The communiqué proposed a regional human-capital and social-inclusion database covering children, youth, women, persons with disabilities, indigent households and rural communities.
It also called for measures to reduce school dropout, address teacher shortages, improve learning quality and expand STEM, technical and vocational education linked to regional industries and value chains.
In healthcare, the summit recommended strengthening teaching hospitals and specialised institutions, expanding health-insurance coverage for vulnerable residents, improving access to essential medicines and addressing mental health and substance-abuse concerns.
Security was described as “productive infrastructure,” with participants stressing that agriculture, trade, investment, education and community life could not thrive where people, assets and transport corridors remained unsafe.
The proposed regional security framework would emphasise intelligence sharing, community engagement, early warning systems and inter-state coordination.
The communiqué also recommended assessing the responsible use of satellite imagery, drones and geospatial technology, with appropriate safeguards and operational protocols.
Climate and environmental resilience featured prominently in the recommendations. The summit called for mapping flood, erosion, drought and mining hazards, strengthening early-warning systems, undertaking flood and erosion-control projects and establishing recovery pathways for people displaced by climate-related events.
It also recommended a “safeguard-before-scale” approach to mining and major infrastructure projects, including a regional mining-hazard register, mine-site remediation and ecosystem restoration.
For the digital economy, the plan proposes expanding broadband connectivity and affordable digital access across the region, including local governments, wards and underserved rural communities.
AI, digital-skills and teacher-training centres are also proposed, alongside innovation hubs, makerspaces and dedicated financing for technology enterprises.
The summit further called for skills programmes to be linked directly to employment opportunities, including business-process outsourcing and credible remote-work platforms.
On financing, participants recommended matching funding models to the economic characteristics of individual projects.
Commercially viable projects would be expected to attract private investment, while projects with strong economic benefits but weaker initial returns could use blended finance, with essential non-commercial services receiving appropriate public funding.
The communiqué called for stronger project preparation, including feasibility studies, financial models, transparent contracts, credible sponsors, risk allocation and operations and maintenance plans before projects are presented to investors.
To sustain implementation, the summit recommended giving the 20-year plan legal and institutional backing and establishing a Programme Management Office within the NCDC. The office would coordinate flagship programmes, project preparation, financing, implementation support, risk management and performance reporting.
The proposed framework also calls for verified baselines, measurable targets and regular public reporting, with implementation reviews annually and at three-year and five-year intervals.
The communiqué said security, reliable data, inclusion, climate resilience, digital enablement, private-sector participation and institutional capacity should be treated as cross-cutting requirements throughout the plan.
It further emphasised meaningful participation by young people, women, persons with disabilities, displaced persons and rural communities in programme design and implementation.
The communiqué was presented by Professor Mohammed B. Nuhu and adopted by participants on Tuesday, at the close of the summit in Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to political parties, candidates and voters to ensure peaceful conduct before, during and after the 2027 general election.
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, made the appeal at a major stakeholders meeting on Thursday at the commission’s offices at Akure South and North Local Government Area of the state.
Political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, NYSC members, National Association of Transport Owners (NATO) and other drivers union, among others were present.
Agboke, who visited the traditional ruler of Iju and Ita-Ogbolu in Akure North Local Government Area, said the stakeholders meeting became necessary to ensure the forthcoming election was free, fair and credible.
According to him, credible elections are a collective responsibility and that security, traditional institutions and transport unions all play a critical role in protecting voters, officials and election materials.
The REC, who said INEC would remain neutral and transparent, warned that the commission would not tolerate partisan leaning, vote-buying, intimidation or any act capable of undermining the credibility of the poll.
“This advocacy is for the commission and our major stakeholders to be on the same page because our expectation is to let votes count.
“The recent elections conducted by INEC are enough proof to show that people’s votes determine the direction of who wins.
“Meanwhile, we don’t want them to engage in violence, nobody should allow him or herself or wards to be used for violence and desist from engaging in vote buying.
“It is only votes lawfully cast and duly counted would determine winners,” he said.
He, therefore, assured that INEC officials had been trained to adhere strictly to the Electoral Act and its guidelines, while the commission’s doors remained open for questions and clarifications to avoid misinformation.
Agboke reiterated INEC’s promise of neutrality, saying that preparations for the 2027 general elections had already begun in earnest.
According to the REC, the success recorded in recent by-elections in the state will be built upon to deliver free, fair and inclusive polls that reflect the will of the people.
In their separate responses, Oba Idowu Faborode, The Ogbolu of Ita-Ogbolu; Oba Amos Farukanmi, The Okiti of Iju and religious leaders, pledged to sensitise their subjects and congregations on non-violence.
Also, Dr Gbenga Jemiloye, Akure South Local Government Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), applauded the commission for the meeting, saying it showed INEC was ready for the election.
The security agencies and drivers union assured of adequate deployment across the state, while the transport unions committed to timely movement of personnel and materials.(NAN)
By David Torough, Abuja
The management and staff of DAILY ASSET have announced the death of the newspaper’s Political Editor, Mike Odiakose, who passed away in the early hours of Thursday at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, following a brief illness.
Odiakose, aged 63, was described by the management of DAILY ASSET as an accomplished journalist, who served with dedication across various media organisations in Nigeria before joining the newspaper two years ago.
In a statement personally signed by the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of DAILY ASSET, Dr.
Cletus Akwaya, the newspaper expressed sadness over the death of the veteran journalist, saying he would be deeply missed by his colleagues and members of the wider media community.“Management and Staff of DAILY ASSET regret to announce the sudden passing of our Political Editor, Mr Mike Odiakose in the early hours of today (Yesterday), following a brief illness at the Federal Medical Centre Keffi,” the statement said.
The management noted that Odiakose’s contributions to journalism extended beyond DAILY ASSET, where he worked for two years, having previously served with dedication in several media organisations across the country.
He is survived by his wife and children.
The newspaper prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul and offered its condolences to his family, colleagues and associates.
“May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” the statement added.
The management of Nigerian dancer and entertainer, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has called for restraint in the spread of negative narratives surrounding the entertainer’s ongoing legal case in the United Kingdom.
The management, in a statement issued on Wednesday by Poco Lee’s manager, Faleye “Dee-Y” Adedoyin, also acknowledged the support of Nigerian singer, Zlatan Ibile, and others during the entertainer’s legal ordeal.
Adedoyin said Zlatan and others had been “extremely supportive and helpful” throughout the matter, adding that their involvement had been vital to moving things forward.
The statement read, “We would like to publicly acknowledge that Zlatan, along with others, has been extremely supportive and helpful through this matter.
“Their involvement, support, and effort have been vital to moving things forward.
“We deeply value their ongoing support and dedication and we kindly request that everyone refrain from spreading negative narratives.”
The manager signed off the statement as “Poco’s Management.”
The statement followed reports and comments about Poco Lee’s UK trip and the circumstances surrounding his ongoing court case.
Social commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, had made the claims, questioning reports that Poco Lee had travelled to the UK for a Davido show.
In an Instagram post, VeryDarkMan claimed that Poco Lee travelled to the UK for a Zlatan show rather than a Davido concert.
He also questioned why people were defending Poco Lee while the case remained before the court.
VeryDarkMan said, “In between Poco Lee didn’t travel to the UK for a Davido show, it was for a Zlatan show.”
He also said Poco Lee should be allowed to face the court process, adding that “court case na stress” and praying that the matter would end soon.
The latest development comes amid ongoing proceedings against Poco Lee in the UK.
Poco Lee was granted bail on September 11 ahead of his scheduled appearance at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15. The court had confirmed the bail and hearing date to PUNCH Online.
However, the September 15 plea and trial preparation hearing was adjourned to February 8, 2027, after the charge sheet was reportedly unavailable and Poco Lee did not appear in court. The trial was subsequently scheduled for March 8, 2027.
Poco Lee is facing five sexual offence charges in the UK: attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration. He has denied the allegations and has not been convicted of any offence.
His management had previously urged the public and media to exercise restraint, particularly over unverified narratives surrounding the case, saying allegations should not be treated as evidence of guilt.
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