Through His Excellency, Hon. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, Minister of State in the Ministry of Regional Development, the Federal Government has begun negotiations with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to promote cooperation between the two organizations in order to promote multi-sectoral growth in the country’s North East, North West, and North Central regions.
In order to promote sustainable growth and development in the regions, the Minister, who was on a working visit to the JICA office on Monday at No.12 Charles De Gaulle Street, Asokoro, Abuja, called for the formation of strong partnerships in important development areas like housing settlement provision, infrastructure development, vocational training, youth empowerment, ICT training hubs, and skill acquisition programs.
“The Ministry, which was established on October 23, 2024, has the responsibility of overseeing the Commissions under its auspices,” the Minister disclosed during the engagement, adding that “the whole idea is to bring them closely under the supervision of the Ministry for proper synergy and ease of operations.”
Maigari Ahmadu emphasized the Ministry’s primary mission and areas of focus while expressing his unwavering passion for fulfilling the Ministry’s responsibilities to the regions. He claimed that this is what recently led him on a facility inspection tour through Borno state, a state known for insurgency and banditry.
The Minister expressed hope that the proposed partnership with JICA could help expedite the much-needed development in these areas, stating that his recent trip to Borno state gave him the chance to observe the urgent need to launch revolutionary projects and address the infrastructure desolation in the areas already devastated by the Boko Haram insurgents.
He promised that his ministry would develop the necessary enabling framework to handle any potential issues that might surface during the proposed partnership.
He assured JICA that security would be given top priority when creating the suggested partnership framework and explained to the commissions that the Ministry’s role is to work together to accomplish a shared objective rather than to obstruct the work of the various commissions under its direction.
The Minister specifically emphasized the vital role the ministry played in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of insurgency-affected and economically challenged communities in the NEDC. According to the Minister, the Ministry hopes to expand the reach and impact of its developmental initiatives by working with JICA, guaranteeing that vulnerable populations receive the assistance they need to recover and prosper. “The partnership will offer a methodical approach to capacity building, economic empowerment, and infrastructure revitalization; enhancing the country’s resilience and promoting long-term stability,” the Minister alluded.
Hon. Uba Maigari Ahmadu praised JICA’s 25-year history of support and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to developing strategic alliances that promote the development of human capital and infrastructure.
Susumu Yuzurio, the JICA Chief Representative to Nigeria, responded by thanking the Minister for his visit and stating that JICA is open to discussing potential areas of cooperation with the Ministry of Regional Development.
Susumu went on to describe JICA’s cooperation strategy in Nigeria, which included fostering peace and stability, creating an inclusive and resilient health and medical system, and laying the groundwork for a sustainable and resilient society for economic growth. “Aiming to promote high-quality and inclusive economic and social development as well as stabilization of society,” he stated, were all of these.
According to Susumu, JICA’s primary mission as Japan’s international development agency is to promote economic and social development in developing countries such as Nigeria by means of grant assistance, capacity building, financial aid, technical cooperation, and MDAS training. In order to build a society that is more resilient and self-sufficient, he also noted that the agency concentrates on infrastructure development, capacity building, and policy formulation.
In the same spirit, he disclosed that by utilizing its proficiency in these fields, JICA has effectively carried out a number of projects throughout Nigeria, working closely with NEDC, of which the Ministry of Regional Development currently acts as a mother body, and other organizations tasked with the same goal of regional sustainable development. However, he voiced some reservations about the authorization process and security issues.
Mr. Susumu pleaded for time to fully study and analyse the collaboration proposal and revert back to the minister as appropriate.
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