**Warns against waste, says white elephant projects, corruption, politicisation won’t be tolerated
** Directs commissions to unlock regional economic potential, seek alternative funding

President Bola Tinubu has directed the timely release of funds due to Nigeria’s Regional Development Commissions, while warning their boards and managements against corruption, waste and projects that offer little or no direct benefit to the people.

The President also declared that the era of white elephant projects was over, cautioning the commissions against becoming conduits for the waste of public resources.

Tinubu spoke Monday in Abuja while declaring open the first North Central Stakeholders Development Summit organised by the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, the President said the Federal Government would continue to provide the political and financial support required by the commissions to execute strategic projects capable of unlocking the economic and industrial potential of their respective regions.

He consequently directed the SGF to ensure that funds accruing to the commissions were released as and when due.

“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,” Tinubu said.

The President, however, challenged the commissions to reduce their dependence on government funding by exploring alternative sources of finance, including public-private partnerships, donor support and development financing, where permitted by law and government policy.

He said the establishment of the Regional Development Commissions was a deliberate component of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to accelerate development and bridge longstanding infrastructural and economic gaps across the country.

Tinubu stressed that the commissions were not created to replace, duplicate or usurp the responsibilities of existing tiers 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 must concentrate on projects that address the specific development needs of their regions while also strengthening economic and infrastructural connectivity across the country.

He identified roads, rail and air transportation, industrialisation, security, investment, human capital development, education and healthcare as key areas requiring sustained attention.

Tinubu charged the commissions to formulate clear, concise, attainable and properly funded programmes, warning that projects must be selected on the basis of their economic and social impact.

“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 warned.

The President further directed the Ministry of Regional Development to ensure that the commissions operated within the framework of the Regional Development Policy Document, while urging the National Assembly to provide effective oversight.

He warned the boards and managements against corruption, marginalisation, politicisation and ethnicisation in the administration of the commissions.

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

On the North Central, the President said the region possessed enormous economic potential in agriculture, food production and agro-processing, solid minerals development and processing, industrialisation, peace and security.

He noted that the region had operated below its potential for too long, urging stakeholders to use the summit to develop a new trajectory for sustainable economic growth and inclusive development.

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

He urged the NCDC to complement these efforts by supporting initiatives capable of stabilising the region, stressing that meaningful development could not take place without peace and security.

The President described the theme of the summit, “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region,” as timely and appropriate.

He said the summit offered stakeholders an opportunity to forge consensus around a long-term development plan that would respond to the needs and aspirations of the people.

Tinubu urged participants to subject the proposed 20-year plan to rigorous scrutiny and ensure that it was realistic, implementable and aligned with the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He cautioned against allowing the summit to degenerate into another talking shop where ideas were generated 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.