UNDP backs Northeast development plan to tackle poverty, insecurity

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has pledged support for the development and implementation of a new regional policy framework aimed at addressing poverty, insecurity, and post-conflict recovery across Nigeria’s Northeast region.

The commitment was announced during a Regional Technical Workshop on the National Regional Development Policy (2026–2030) held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The workshop brought together government officials, development partners, policymakers, and regional stakeholders to discuss strategies for sustainable development in the region.

Speaking at the event, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, said long-term peace and stability in the Northeast would require more than military interventions, stressing the need for inclusive economic growth and development policies tailored to the needs of local communities.

“Our major mandate in this area is to support the Ministry of Regional Development to develop a robust and inclusive regional development policy that will address the needs of the people,” Attafuah said.

The Managing Director of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed Alkali, highlighted the socio-economic challenges facing the region, noting that the Northeast records a poverty rate of about 74 percent, one of the highest in the country. He also said that only about 42 percent of residents have access to electricity, underscoring the scale of infrastructure deficits in the zone.

According to Alkali, years of insurgency and conflict have disrupted agriculture, displaced millions of people, and widened development gaps between urban and rural communities across the six Northeast states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, and Gombe.

The UNDP said its support would focus on promoting inclusive development, strengthening community resilience, attracting investment, and supporting initiatives designed to improve livelihoods and economic opportunities across the region.

Attafuah added that the organisation’s goal is to support efforts to ensure stability and development across all six states, rather than concentrating solely on areas most affected by insurgency.

Officials also stressed the importance of effective implementation, a challenge that has hindered the success of several development policies in the past.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, expressed confidence that the proposed policy would be successfully executed, noting that it is aligned with Nigeria’s broader National Development Plan.

She said the framework contains specific strategies for addressing insecurity, rebuilding communities affected by conflict, and improving economic opportunities for residents of the Northeast.

Stakeholders at the workshop expressed optimism that the 2026–2030 regional development policy would help accelerate post-conflict recovery, reduce poverty, improve infrastructure, and create a foundation for sustainable growth across the region.