President Bola Tinubu has cautioned Regional Development Commissions against sinking public funds into projects with little real benefit to Nigerians, insisting that the era of wasteful “white elephant” ventures has come to an end.
The President issued the warning on Monday while declaring open the first North Central Stakeholders Development Summit, organised by the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) in Abuja.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu said the commissions must ensure public funds go into projects with clear objectives, proper funding structures, and measurable outcomes for citizens.
“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.
He also cautioned against corruption, political interference, marginalisation, and ethnic bias in project selection and execution, warning that officials found culpable would face sanctions.
On funding, Tinubu directed the Federal Government to ensure timely release of funds meant for the commissions, while pledging continued political and financial backing.
“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,” he said. “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 nonetheless urged the commissions to look beyond government allocations, encouraging them to attract private sector investment, donor support, and development finance to boost their capacity.
According to Tinubu, the commissions were established under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to bridge long-standing development gaps and expand economic opportunities nationwide.
“For us, the establishment of these Commissions is not an end in itself. 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.
On the North Central region specifically, Tinubu flagged agriculture, agro-processing, solid minerals, industrialisation, security, education, and healthcare as priority areas needing urgent attention, and urged stakeholders to use the summit to craft a practical blueprint for the region’s development in the years ahead.
The summit is centred on a proposed 20-year economic, infrastructural, and social development plan for the North Central region, held under the theme: “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”
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