The Ministry of Regional Development (MRD), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will commence a series of Zonal Technical Validation Workshops across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to refine the draft National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026–2030.
The workshops represent the final nationwide consultation phase, bringing together stakeholders from federal and state governments, Regional Development Commissions, local government authorities, civil society, the private sector, academia, and traditional institutions.
The NRDP provides a comprehensive framework for addressing regional disparities, unlocking economic potential, and promoting inclusive and balanced national development. Developed with technical support from UNDP, the policy aligns with national priorities and international frameworks, including the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union Agenda 2063.
Speaking on the NRDP, the Honourable Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh emphasised the policy’s strategic importance as a unifying national framework:
“This policy provides the guiding framework for regional development in Nigeria. Each Development Commission is expected to derive its master plan and operational agenda from it, in line with the Ministry’s mandate to coordinate regional development efforts. Stakeholders must now engage it critically to ensure it is robust, inclusive, and implementation-ready.” He said.
Through its technical partnership, UNDP supported the Ministry in strengthening the policy’s design, ensuring methodological rigour, and integrating global best practices in regional development planning, governance, and implementation.
Also speaking, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, stated that, “The National Regional Development Policy signals a decisive shift – one that takes a people-centric and inclusive approach. At UNDP, we are proud to stand alongside the Ministry of Regional Development, Regional Development Commissions (RDCs) and state governments in advancing this ambition through our Integrated Smart States Programme (ISSP) approach.
Through the ISSP, we are supporting a model of development that is balanced, locally driven, and connected – where trade, digital innovation, and sustainable energy converge to create jobs. By validating this approach across all six zones, Nigeria is strengthening its sovereign capability to turn regional diversity into a shared national collective advantage.”
The validation workshops are designed to secure intergovernmental alignment, strengthen political ownership, and generate evidence-based inputs on key areas, including growth hubs and corridors, financing pathways, governance arrangements, and cross-cutting priorities such as gender inclusion, climate resilience, digital transformation, and youth development.
The workshops are scheduled for May–June as follows: South East – Enugu, 11th May; South South – Port Harcourt, 13th May; North Central – Lafia, 25th May; South West – Ibadan, 3rd June; North West – Kano, 8th June; North East – Maiduguri, 10th June; National Consolidation & Political Validation – Abuja, 24th June 2026.
Each zonal engagement will produce a formal communiqué and a technical report to inform the national consolidation process. The zonal consultations will culminate in a National Consolidation and Final Validation Event in Abuja, where inputs from across the six geopolitical zones will be harmonised into a single policy document for submission to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
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