President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Haruna Ginsau (Jigawa) and Prof Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji (Kano) as the chairman Governing Board and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) and their names along with the members of the inaugural Governing Board of NWDC forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
Members of the board include Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe (Sokoto), Hon. Aminu Suleiman (Kebbi), Sen. Tijani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara), Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman (Kaduna), Hon. Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil (Kano), Shamsu Sule (Katsina), and Nasidi Ali (Jigawa).
Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, said in his statement on Saturday, that the step follows President Tinubu’s signing of the NWDC Bill into law on 24 July, marking a crucial milestone in the commission’s establishment.
He said the nominated board members are expected to contribute their wealth of experience and expertise to the Commission’s mandate of developing the North-West region.
The North-West Nigeria comprises seven states, namely, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa States.
For over two decades, North West has been embroiled in tension and insecurity. It has been hot bed of banditry, cattle rustling, killing and kidnapping. Road users and farmers are kidnapped, slaughtered and burnt daily. Some say the challenge has degenerated as a result of the influx of criminals into the country through the porous borders.
The Act to establish the North West Development Commission in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to act as a catalyst to develop the commercial and industrial potential of the North west.
The commission will also take care of agricultural, educational and any other related backwardness, security and developmental challenges in the North West.
It is indeed a crucial one to everyone in the North west with the hope that in a short while the North west will pick up from where it is left in ruins to meet up with developments in the other regions in Nigeria.