By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – The Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC) has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s heavy dependence on federal allocations, saying the habit is holding many regions back from meaningful progress.

The group believes President Bola Tinubu has already provided a pathway out of this dependence through the creation of regional development commissions, but insists that the zones must take full ownership of the opportunity.

In a statement he signed and later discussed with journalists in Abuja, ILDC’s National President, Chief Ugochukwu Nnam, explained that the commissions represent a turning point for regional growth, if the zones are willing to embrace them.

He said Tinubu’s approach offers every region a platform to rediscover its strength and chart a new economic direction.

“I urge all the six geopolitical zones to use their various development commissions to drive development of their zones,” Nnam said.

Nnam emphasised that agriculture remains a natural starting point, especially for regions seeking practical, fast-impact development. He urged zones to return to their comparative advantages and rebuild local economies from the ground up.

“Each of them use their comparative advantage like agriculture to produce what they eat and eat what they produce for their own development,” he said.

For him, agriculture is not just about farming but about restoring dignity, creating youth opportunities, and boosting the internal revenues that states desperately need to stand on their own feet.

He argued that a renewed focus on agricultural vocation can place food on the table for young people while increasing IGR across zones.

Looking back at the First Republic, Nnam recalled a time when regions were driven by healthy competition—each striving to outdo the other in economic productivity. He believes Tinubu’s development commissions have the potential to reignite that spirit.

According to him, development commissions as created by President Tinubu will restore competition for development among zones.

Nnam, however, faulted the continued reliance of some states and zones on federal allocations, describing the practice as one of the major reasons progress is slow in many parts of the country.

He urged political and regional leaders to take bold steps toward self-reliance and local productivity, drawing inspiration from global examples like the United States and China.

Beyond economic development, Nnam expressed deep worry about the country’s security challenges. He said the rising cases of killings and kidnappings point to a growing erosion of patriotism and love among citizens.

Nnam who condemned the rampant killings and kidnappings in the country, blamed it on lack of love for compatriots.

According to him, this senseless killings ought not happen if we cherish our nation and our brothers and sisters.

He appealed to political leaders not to exploit existing tensions or disagreements to further divide the country. Instead, he urged them to prioritise unity during this period of national difficulty.

He said: “this not time for religious or ethnic divisions or blames but time to wear the toga of Nigeria first to overcome our challenges.”

Nnam encouraged Nigerians everywhere to reject divisive rhetoric and focus on values and attitudes that strengthen national unity and trust.

He urged Nigerians to shun all forms of divisions and embrace those things that unite the people the more.