North-west commission receives N15bn, unveils projects for 30,000 farmers, 10,000 youths

The North West Development Commission, NWDC, has received N15.17 billion in federal allocations between January and May 2026 and unveiled plans to implement major interventions in agriculture, healthcare, education, youth empowerment and security across the seven North-West states.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, disclosed this while presenting the NWDC’s mid-year performance report to the Senate Committee on the North West Development Commission.

Mr Ma’aji said the period under review marked the Commission’s transition from institutional establishment to full operational readiness, with significant progress recorded in governance structures, procurement planning, strategic partnerships and project development.

According to the report, the Commission, established under the NWDC Act, 2024, did not receive any statutory allocation until January 2026. Between January and May, it received N15.17 billion, spent N1.2 billion and maintained a balance of N13.97 billion as of July 5, 2026.

He said the Commission was intensifying efforts to improve funding from statutory sources, including the Federation Account, Ecological Fund and Value Added Tax (VAT), to enable it to effectively deliver on its regional development mandate.

Mr Ma’aji also disclosed that the Commission had established a temporary headquarters in Kano following the donation of office facilities by the state government, while Kaduna and Katsina states also provided office accommodation for their respective state offices.

He added that the Kano State Government donated two operational vehicles and two hectares of land in Hotoro for the Commission’s permanent headquarters, while the Sokoto State Government pledged additional vehicles to support its operations.

According to him, Hon. Abdulaziz Zubairu, the member representing Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency, also donated 20 desktop computers and five printers to enhance the Commission’s administrative capacity.

He said arrangements were at an advanced stage to establish a liaison office in Abuja to strengthen coordination with the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, the National Assembly and other key federal institutions.

The NWDC boss said procurement planning had commenced in line with due process requirements, while consultations with the seven North-West states had identified priority projects across critical sectors.

He said the planned interventions include the upgrade of primary healthcare centres, rehabilitation of secondary schools, provision of potable water through motorised and solar-powered boreholes, resettlement of internally displaced persons, IDPs, youth vocational and digital skills development, security support initiatives and agricultural development programmes.

A key agricultural intervention, he said, would see the distribution of free fertiliser to 30,000 farming households during the 2026 wet season to boost food production and improve rural livelihoods.

Mr Ma’aji further announced the launch of a Youth Skills Acquisition Programme targeting 10,000 beneficiaries, who will receive technical, vocational and digital skills training through designated centres in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto.

He said a digital registration portal had already been developed to facilitate the enrolment and verification of participants.

To strengthen security operations across the region, the Commission also plans to provide operational vehicles and other equipment to security agencies.

On international partnerships, the NWDC chief said the Commission had opened discussions with the embassies of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, India and Russia, all of which had indicated interest in collaborating on humanitarian assistance, education, human capital development and economic empowerment.

He added that engagements were also ongoing with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NCFRMI, ADASHE Women Multipurpose Cooperative, eHealth Africa, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNESCO on projects ranging from housing for displaced persons to digital skills development, healthcare and regional development planning.

According to him, the Commission also convened a major stakeholders’ summit in Kaduna to obtain expert input for the preparation of its long-term regional master plan.

Despite the progress recorded, Mr Ma’aji identified delayed and inadequate funding as the Commission’s biggest challenge.

He noted that although N145.61 billion was appropriated for the Commission in the 2026 budget, actual monthly releases amounted to only about three per cent of the expected allocations, a situation he said had slowed project implementation.

The managing director also cited differing interpretations of the NWDC Act between the Governing Board and the Management, as well as delays in convening board meetings, as factors affecting the timely execution of programmes.

He appealed to the Senate Committee to facilitate timely and adequate budgetary releases commensurate with the Commission’s statutory responsibilities and the development needs of the North-West.

Mr Ma’aji assured lawmakers that the Commission remained committed to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources as it prepares to commence full-scale project implementation in the second half of 2026.