East African Community Heads of State that share the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP), are meeting in Kigali today to assess the progress of several projects undertaken by the group.

NCIP is a very ambitious undertaking that includes the building of an oil refinery in Uganda, an oil pipeline to link all member countries as well as the long awaited railway line.

In order to gauge its importance, the Heads of State meet every two months and to fast track the implementation of the projects.

The economic and social fortunes of the region are linked to the successful implementation of the region. So, NCIP should not be left to the sole inputs of the heads of State, but the private sector should make it their own.

The business community is one group that stands to benefit the most. With a combined market population of 130 million, the sooner they jump on board with all they have, the quicker the benefits will come their way.

The media should also move away from just reporting on the functions related to NCIP, but should be the vanguard of sensitizing people about the projects’ importance so that even the common man in the village helps with inputs.

As long as people regard development projects as the sole responsibilities of governments, that they have no say, the disconnect with ownership will remain. That is what remains to be tackled by coordinators of NCIP, taking the idea to the grassroots.