By John Audu, LAFIA, Nasarawa State
The Nasarawa State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has strongly protested the relocation of the proposed North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) headquarters from Nasarawa State to Niger State.
The NCDC bill, recently passed by the National Assembly, was sponsored by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) and co-sponsored by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East). The North-Central Zone, comprising Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the FCT, has suffered significant damage due to terrorism and insecurity, prompting the need for the commission.
Comrade Solomon John, the Nasarawa State NYCN Chairman, and Secretary Ibrahim Abdullahi-Attama expressed their disapproval of the NCDC amendment in a press briefing in Lafia. John urged the National Assembly to reconsider its decision, warning that it could have negative consequences for peace and stability.
“As the umbrella body for youth organizations in Nigeria, the NYCN plays an important role in promoting peace, unity, and tolerance among young people,” John stated. He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule and the youth assembly for their efforts to secure the NCDC headquarters for Nasarawa State. He also acknowledged the efforts of Jeremiah Umaru, the House of Representatives member representing Akwanga, Wamba, and Nasarawa Eggon, for sponsoring the original bill.
John emphasized that Nasarawa State’s central location, bordering several other North-Central states, makes it an ideal location for the NCDC headquarters. He argued that Lafia would be a unifying and easily accessible hub for the region.
The NYCN Chairman called on Nasarawa State’s National Assembly members to advocate for the reversal of the amendment, urging them not to prioritize “parochial sentiments” over the “general good.” He stressed that the development of the region should not be jeopardized by political disputes.
The NCDC bill’s passage followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Special Duties, presented by its Chairman, Senator Shehu Kaka (APC, Borno Central).
