The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed confidence that the newly established North East, North West, and North Central Development Commissions will help reduce poverty and inequality in the region.
Chairman of the Forum, Mamman Mike Osuman, made this known during a courtesy visit to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, alongside other ACF members.
He said the creation of the North East, North West, and North Central Development Commissions would enhance infrastructure and social amenities, ultimately improving the living standards of people in the affected zones.
“These commissions will significantly reduce poverty and inequality while enhancing economic opportunities for our people,” Osuman said.
“With proper management, they can drive massive infrastructural development and provide the much-needed social services that have been lacking in many northern states.”
He likened the initiative to the New Nigeria Development Company, established in 1949, which played a crucial role in boosting commercial and industrial development in the North.
However, he warned against politicising appointments within the commissions, stressing that merit should be the primary consideration.
“Politicising the commissions could undermine their purpose. As such, appointments should be based on merit to preserve the integrity of these development initiatives,” he cautioned.
Earlier, the Chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, noted that their visit was to brief Governor Yahaya on the Forum’s activities and plans to strengthen its core mandate.
In response, Governor Yahaya reaffirmed the commitment of northern governors to addressing regional challenges, particularly insecurity and underdevelopment.
