by George Ozalla
The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, appeared before a joint committee of the National Assembly comprising members of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Regional Development on Friday, February 13, 2026, where lawmakers raised concerns over the distribution of projects, budget implementation, and the overall direction of federal regional intervention programmes across Nigeria.
The session, part of the legislature’s constitutional oversight responsibility, turned into a detailed review of the ministry’s implementation framework, as lawmakers questioned the fairness, transparency, and national spread of projects under its supervision. Legislators stressed that the newly created ministry carries significant national expectations and must demonstrate measurable impact across all geopolitical zones.
Chairman of the Senate oversight component of the joint committee, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba, said the establishment of the Ministry of Regional Development marked a major institutional effort to address regional imbalances and promote inclusive development. He told the minister that the credibility of the ministry would be judged by its ability to ensure fairness and equity in project allocation and execution nationwide.
Ipinsagba warned that the National Assembly would not accept any situation where federal development projects are concentrated in certain regions while others are neglected. He directed the minister to provide a comprehensive breakdown of all executed, ongoing, and proposed projects, including their locations, funding levels, and implementation status, noting that transparency would influence future legislative approvals and funding support.
During the deliberations, Senator Adams Oshiomhole emphasised the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to ensure accountability in the use of public funds. He said regional development programmes were designed to correct historical infrastructure gaps and economic disparities, and warned that any perception of imbalance could erode public confidence in government institutions.
Oshiomhole called on the ministry to submit detailed state by state documentation covering project approvals, funding releases, and completion timelines, stressing that lawmakers must be fully informed to carry out effective oversight and protect national interest.
Responding, Momoh defended the ministry’s performance, stating that its programmes are guided by national development priorities and approved budget provisions. He explained that the ministry coordinates the activities of various regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission and other regional intervention bodies established to drive infrastructure expansion, economic empowerment, and social development.
He acknowledged the scale of expectations placed on the ministry and assured lawmakers that efforts were ongoing to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, and accountability systems. He also appealed for sustained legislative support, noting that effective regional development depends on cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.
At the conclusion of the session, the joint committee directed the minister to submit additional documentation to enable comprehensive review of the ministry’s activities, signalling the legislature’s determination to ensure equitable and transparent implementation of federal regional development initiatives.
The Ministry of Regional Development was established by the federal government to harmonise and supervise regional development commissions created to address infrastructure deficits, promote economic growth, and ensure balanced national development across all regions of the country.
