The North Central Development Commission (NCDC), is one of the new regional bodies established by the Federal Government to address developmental challenges around the country.
NCDC’s anticipated interventionist responsibilities cut across the states of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja.
In July 2024, the National Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of the NCDC with expectations that the commission would help to strengthen the economy and infrastructural development of the North-Central geopolitical zone. President Bola Tinubu did not delay in signing the bill into law in February 2025, giving it the legal backing for operation.
The NCDC is expected to deliver through several key initiatives, some of which are transportation and road networks, and investments in the construction and rehabilitation of major roads, bridges, and railways to enhance connectivity while facilitating huge economic growth.
By partnering with power sector stakeholders, the new commission like the others, is strategically positioned to also expand electricity distribution, support renewable energy, and optimize hydroelectric potential, focusing on rural electrification.
In the area of health infrastructure, NCDC will target to improve healthcare services by building and upgrading hospitals, equipping medical centers, and recruiting healthcare professionals.
It is also expected to prioritize education by constructing new schools, renovating existing ones, and providing scholarships and vocational training programmes.
Regional agitations in the Niger Delta region had given birth to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during the administration of late President Umaru Yar’ Adua in 2007, bringing the tensed atmosphere in the region at the time, to some level of control.
The amnesty programme of the Yar’ Adua government was also a key factor in quelling the tension in the region, which continues to be the nation’s economic life wire.
With the subsequent creation of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) by former President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the North West, North East, and now NCDC by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, all the six geo-political regions have been given a sense of belonging in the scheme of things in the polity.
Having suffered retrogression, particularly from banditry attacks, kidnapping, and other violent crimes, which have caused food shortages as a result of the displacement of farmers in the states under the north-central region, the NCDC needs a technocrat and an astute administrator per excellence as its pioneer Managing Director (MD). A personality with sound qualities of visionary and adaptable leadership that could inspire, communicate effectively, build trust, and foster collaboration.
It is only with such a capable individual that the commission could sustain the implementation of its core mandate of both physical and human capital development.
President Tinubu should, therefore, appoint a square peg in a square hole as the pioneer head of this important commission.
Already, several stakeholders in the north-central region have tipped a consummate politician -Jeffrey Kuraun, a geologist and petroleum engineer with extensive experience in the upstream oil and gas industry as well as mining as the right man for the job.
Kuraun has been involved with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NURPC) and was a prominent aspirant in the 2023 governorship election in Benue state. He has worked as a Senior Seismologist and business development manager in various companies
Karaun founded the Jeffrey Kuraun Foundation, focusing on health, education, and economic empowerment, and had expressed interest in leading Benue state, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hoping to improve governance and development.
With his experience, coupled with the desire to serve, there is wide belief that as the Managing Director of the NCDC, he would excel in galvanizing the leadership of the commission to succeed.
As a dependable ally, Kuraun has been supportive of both personal and socio-political concerns of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume who must not make the mistake but support him in taking up this vital responsibility. An enigmatic Kuraun remains a sound choice who the SGF and other critical stakeholders in the north central especially Benue, will not regret if they push forward his candidature for the plum job.
