Kohima: Nagaland Minister for Public Health Engineering Department and Cooperation Jacob Zhimomi has demanded an end to tribal and geographic blocs. He warns that internal fragmentation is killing Naga society. The minister spoke on September 14 at an inauguration event for new administrative housing in Niuland.
Zhimomi targeted major tribal organizations during his address. He explicitly named the Central Nagaland Tribes Council, the Tenyimi Peoples’ Organisation, and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation. "Whether in politics, in church, or in social organisations, if people only think for their own group, the Naga people are finished. CNTC must also end, TPO must also end, ENPO must also end," the minister said.
He argued that Nagas show great camaraderie while living outside their home state but lose that unity upon return. According to Zhimomi, various leaders across state, overground, and underground governments seek personal supremacy instead of collective progress. He noted the Naga political movement now contains over 30 separate groups. He warned that if the overground sector continues this path, the entire society will collapse.
The minister defended the 16-Point Agreement as a blood-inked pact that defined the state. He claimed the government has acted as a facilitator since the first assembly formed in 1964. He also praised the Sumi community for pivoting toward education and civil service success after years of sacrifice in the political struggle.
The inauguration featured a Type-C flat for administrative officers. Construction on the one-storey building began in 2023 and finished in 2026. The unit spans 1,417 square feet and includes rainwater harvesting systems, according to Assistant Engineer Daniel H Lotha. Contractor Isaac Zhimo executed the project. Advisor for CAWD Kudecho Khamo and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio earned praise for prioritizing district headquarters development. Khamo noted that Nagaland now manages over 1,400 general administration buildings. Future plans include a new Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex in Niuland to house various departments under one roof.
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