By Jacinta Nwachukwu
The Federal Government is to commence nationwide technical validation workshops aimed at shaping a comprehensive framework for balanced and inclusive regional development.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the workshops, organised by the Ministry of Regional Development (MRD) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will hold across the six geopolitical zones to address regional disparities.
The statement was jointly signed Mr Sani Datti, Head, Information and Public Relations in MRD and Ms Christabel Chanda Ginsberg, Public Engagement, Outreach & Partnerships Lead, UNDP
According to the statement, the workshops scheduled to start May 11 aim to refine the draft National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026–2030.
The partners noted that the workshops represented the final nationwide consultation phase that will bring together stakeholders from federal and state governments as well as the Regional Development Commissions
They added that stakeholders from local government authorities, civil society groups, the private sector, academia, and traditional institutions will also participate in the workshop.
The policy, according to the partners would provide 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,” they said.
Speaking on the NRDP, the Minister of Regional Development, 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.
“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,” he said.
Also speaking, Ms Elsie Attafuah, UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, said the National Regional Development Policy signals a decisive shift – one that takes a people-centric and inclusive approach.
Attafuah said UNDP is proud to stand alongside the Ministry and state governments in advancing this ambition through its 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,” she said.
Attafuah added that the validation workshops amwere designed to align governments, build political ownership, and provide evidence-based input on key areas.(NAN)