Northern leaders have taken a major step toward reviving the region’s economy with the creation of a new body known as the Northern Nigeria Development Council (NNDC).
The initiative, jointly approved by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), aims to coordinate and implement long-term economic transformation projects across the 19 northern states.
The decision was formalized through the signing of the Northern Nigeria Economic Development Charter at the close of the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit, which ended in Abuja on Monday.
In a communiqué issued after the summit, NEF Convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said the NNDC would serve as the institutional framework for executing the region’s development masterplan under the joint supervision of the two forums.
“The charter signed by the Northern Governors commits them to establish the NNDC as the central agency for managing and driving the North’s economic agenda,” the communiqué read.
The council will focus on key sectors such as mining, agriculture, power, industrialisation, and technology, consolidating efforts across participating state governments to attract private investment and accelerate growth.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Strategic Opportunities in Mining, Agriculture, and Power,” drew participation from governors, investors, and development partners. Over $10 billion in investments were reportedly pledged for implementation within the next five years.
Participants emphasized the need for regional economic integration, better infrastructure, and clear policies to attract investors. They also proposed reforms in land administration, public-private partnerships, and the creation of a Security-Investment Coordination Task Force to safeguard projects.
The communiqué recalled the North’s industrial legacy in the 1960s and 1970s when agriculture and agro-processing powered the economy. It noted that the new initiative seeks to restore that foundation through a modernized and coordinated approach to development.
The NNDC is expected to commence operations once its structure and leadership are finalized by the joint committee of elders and governors.
