By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Community Association for Grassroots Transformation (CAGRAT) has expressed deep dissatisfaction over what it d...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Community Association for Grassroots Transformation (CAGRAT) has expressed deep dissatisfaction over what it describes as the unfair composition of the newly established North Central Development Commission (NCDC) by the Federal Government.
At a press conference held by the association, its President-General, Alhaji Muhammadu Dagaci Etsu-Gaie, stated that the appointment of the commission's leadership did not reflect equitable representation, particularly for Niger, Kwara, and Kogi States.
In a press statement released by the association, it was noted that the positions of Chairman and Managing Director of the NCDC were allocated to Plateau and Benue States, respectively, while the commission's secretariat was established in Nasarawa State—all from the same geopolitical axis.
“This is not equitable,” the association stated. “It is regrettable that the Federal Government overlooked fair representation, especially in a diverse state like Niger, where the Nupe ethnic group—making up about 70% of the population—was entirely excluded.”
CAGRAT emphasised that Nigeria is currently in a politically sensitive period, urging the government to ensure balanced political appointments that reflect the contributions of all regions to national development.
“If we desire unity and progress, favouritism in political appointments must stop,” the statement read. “The North Central region has continually faced marginalisation. Even the position of National Chairman of the APC, which was expected to come from this region, has been trivialised. The Baro Port project—believed to have the potential to create thousands of jobs—has also been abandoned.”
The association further decried the recent allocation of over ₦700 billion worth of federal road projects across 13 states, noting that Niger State—despite its size and need—was completely excluded from the list.
“We call on the Federal Government and members of the National Assembly to urgently address this injustice,” the group said. “Our votes matter in national elections, and we are watching how our region continues to be sidelined.”
Babawachiko Yahaya, the National Vice President of CAGRAT, called on lawmakers from the North Central region to “wake up” and correct what he termed as a “glaring mistake,” warning that continued marginalisation would no longer be tolerated.
“Those who should be speaking have gone silent, which is why we have decided to raise our voices and mobilise affected communities,” Yahaya said.
Comrade Sani Musa Sahorami, National Youth Leader of the association, lamented the growing frustration among youths and women who feel abandoned by the government despite their loyalty and support.
“The federal government’s development projects are consistently leaving us behind,” Sahorami added.
CAGRAT called on the government to urgently reconsider the distribution of positions within the NCDC to ensure fairness among the six states in the North Central zone.
The association also recommended that political appointments take into account the ethnic and religious diversity of the region, noting that inclusive governance is key to national unity.
“We urge our representatives in the National Assembly, especially those from Niger State, to be bold and proactive in championing the development of their constituencies,” the statement concluded. “Political appointments should unite communities, not divide them. The North Central region has suffered repeated injustices since the APC assumed power, and urgent steps must be taken to correct the situation before it escalates.”
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