By Bukar Mohammed
Regional Development Commissions (RDCs) were once celebrated as beacons of hope, a bold promise to transform neglected regions, reduce inequalities, and ignite sustainable development. But today, that noble vision seems like a fading dream. Across the country, these commissions have earned a notorious reputation — not for driving growth, but for enabling corruption.
The stories are as troubling as they are familiar. RDCs meant to build schools, hospitals, roads, and water projects for underserved communities have instead become breeding grounds for inflated contracts, ghost projects, and nepotistic appointments. Public funds meant for development vanish into the pockets of a privileged few, while the communities they were meant to uplift remain trapped in poverty.
Take, for example, the countless tales of multi-billion-naira allocations that translate to barely visible development on the ground. In one region, a health center fully funded on paper exists only as an abandoned structure. In another, roads supposedly constructed are impassable, having never seen a layer of asphalt. The same sad pattern repeats across various RDCs, where promised development is swallowed by corruption.
This is not just about mismanagement; it is a textbook case of state capture. Public institutions have been hijacked to serve private interests. The dream of balanced regional development has been replaced by a nightmare of greed and impunity.
But the situation is not hopeless. Civil society organizations, investigative journalists, and community whistleblowers have refused to be silent. They have shined a light on the rot, exposing how billions are siphoned off with little to show for it. Public pressure is mounting, and the need for reform is clearer than ever.
So, what must be done? It is time for a nationwide audit of all Regional Development Commissions, with full transparency. Those found guilty of looting must face the law, with no sacred cows. More importantly, the governance structure of these RDCs must be overhauled. Community members should have a direct say in how funds are allocated and spent, and independent oversight mechanisms must be strengthened.
Nigeria cannot afford to allow these commissions to remain dens of corruption. They must be reclaimed for their true purpose — to drive development, not enrich a few. Only then can they become engines of growth once more, fulfilling their promise to transform lives.
Bukar Mohammed is a development advocate and public affairs commentator from Kano
