The Federal Ministry of Regional Development (MRD), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will on Monday commence a series of zonal technical validation workshops across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to fine-tune the draft National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026-2030.
The nationwide consultations, scheduled to begin on May 11, are expected to bring together stakeholders from federal and state governments, Regional Development Commissions, local government authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, and traditional institutions.
According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry and UNDP on Saturday, the workshops represent the final phase of consultations before the policy is consolidated into a single national framework for submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
The statement noted that the NRDP was designed to address regional disparities, unlock economic potential, and promote inclusive and balanced national development across the country.
It added that the policy was developed with technical support from UNDP and aligns with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union Agenda 2063.
Speaking on the initiative, the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, described the policy as a strategic framework for coordinating development efforts nationwide.
‘This policy provides the guiding framework for regional development in Nigeria. Each Development Commission is expected to derive its master plan and operational agenda from it, in line with the Ministry’s mandate to coordinate regional development efforts. Stakeholders must now engage it critically to ensure it is robust, inclusive, and implementation-ready,’ he said.
The statement explained that UNDP supported the Ministry in strengthening the policy’s design, ensuring methodological rigour, and integrating global best practices in regional development planning, governance, and implementation.
Also speaking, the Resident Representative of UNDP Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, said the policy signalled a major shift towards people-centred and inclusive development.
‘The National Regional Development Policy signals a decisive shift – one that takes a people-centric and inclusive approach. At UNDP, we are proud to stand alongside the Ministry of Regional Development, Regional Development Commissions (RDCs) and state governments in advancing this ambition through our Integrated Smart States Programme (ISSP) approach.
‘Through the ISSP, we are supporting a model of development that is balanced, locally driven, and connected – where trade, digital innovation, and sustainable energy converge to create jobs. By validating this approach across all six zones, Nigeria is strengthening its sovereign capability to turn regional diversity into a shared national collective advantage,’ she said.
According to the statement, the validation workshops are aimed at aligning governments, building political ownership, and generating evidence-based input on issues such as growth hubs and corridors, financing pathways, governance arrangements, gender inclusion, climate resilience, digital transformation, and youth development.
The zonal workshops are scheduled to hold as follows: South East in Enugu on May 11; South South in Port Harcourt on May 13; North Central in Lafia on May 25; South West in Ibadan on June 3; North West in Kano on June 8; and North East in Maiduguri on June 10.
The process will conclude with a National Consolidation and Political Validation event in Abuja on June 24, 2026.
The statement added that each zonal engagement would produce a formal communiqué and technical report to support the national consolidation process.