Nasarawa Donates Headquarters as North Central Development Commission Begins Operations

By Kure Tashilane

 Nasarawa State Governor, His Excellency Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Governor Sule, who is also the Chairman of the North Central States Governors Forum, gave the commendation on Tuesday, September 16th, 2025, at the handover ceremony of a fully furnished office complex to serve as the NCDC's temporary headquarters in Lafia.

Presiding over the event at the Government House Council Chamber, Governor Sule described the day as historic, marking the commencement of the commission's operations.

"Let me first and foremost express great appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for his commitment to ensure the establishment of the NCDC," Sule stated. "I also thank all members of the National Assembly, led by the Senate President, for ensuring the law was passed. I commend those who commenced the initiative and saw it through to its conclusion."

The Governor also thanked his fellow governors from the North Central zone for their concerted efforts in ensuring a smooth take-off. He apologized for their absence, explaining that many had prior official engagements but were fully supportive.

"I spoke with nearly every one of them this morning," he said. "We sincerely take their apologies. What is needed now for a successful take-off is not just a site, but take-off resources in the form of grants or loans. We will discuss that when we meet."

Governor Sule emphasized that securing the headquarters for Lafia came with a responsibility for Nasarawa State to provide the necessary support. He urged the commission's leadership to prioritize regional unity over individual state agendas.

"Office you have free, power you have free, water you have free," he said. "We will also provide temporary residences. However, you must tell your governors and National Assembly members that you need take-off resources. Collectively, we will own you; I don't want one state to own you. I want the entire region to own you so that people will be proud of you."

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Cosmas Akighir, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Sule for the donation, calling the gesture "epic" and "a clear demonstration of leadership."

"Your Excellency, we appreciate your leadership in Nasarawa State. Your signature projects in infrastructure, industrialization, education, ICT, and health are enormous and in line with our commission's mandate," Akighir said. "We are happy to have a governor like you and look forward to collaborating to drive development, alleviate poverty, and lift the standard of living in the region."

He appealed for the provision of land for a permanent site and operational vehicles to enhance their efficiency across the five constituent states.

Echoing the chairman's sentiments, the Managing Director of the NCDC, Dr. Cyril Tsenyil, stated that Governor Sule’s actions had justified the decision to site the headquarters in Lafia.

“Today, you have proven that the decision was not misplaced,” Dr. Tsenyil said. “You have ensured we hit the ground running. The history of the NCDC will never be complete without you.”

He assured the governor of the commission's commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to improve infrastructure and living conditions in the zone, promising to discharge their duties with the fear of God. He also joined the appeal for land and vehicles.

The event was attended by Honourable John Afan, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abas. He praised Governor Sule’s leadership and expressed optimism that the commission would harness the potential of what he called "the country's most endowed region."

Following the ceremony, the commission's chairman and members were led to inspect the donated complex, the former office of the Secretary to the State Government.

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