Bill to establish North West Development Commission passed into second reading

A bill seeking to establish the North West Development Commission scaled through second reading on the floor of the Senate. 

Leading debate on the bill was its sponsor and Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau representing Kano North.

He noted the expediency for its establishment intrinsically serves as a catalyst to develop the arrays of potentials of the North West as well as address the gap in infrastructural development of the region and for related matters.

Barau stated that the purpose of the bill is to create the North West Development Commission, which would serve as a driving force in harnessing the various potentials of the region and bridging the gap in infrastructure development.

According to him, the North West region has played a significant role in the overall progress of Nigeria, particularly in the fields of agriculture and various other sectors.

He said the zone has experienced a significant lack of development.

Barau said: “What the region requires now from the Federal Government is the support to develop its infrastructure and educate its seeming youths to drive the process of developing the zone in its entirety in order to grow at per with the more developed zones in the country.

“The infrastructure of the zone has been immensely destroyed by the activities of the Boko Haram Insurgents, armed bandits and kidnappers across the region leading to the exodus of investors, businessmen, managers of companies and employees.

“This destruction is having a major impact on the economy of the region as it has led to severe food shortages and unemployment in a region that has traditionally produced cash and food crops across the Sahel.”

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Other lawmakers who supported the bill, including Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central Senatorial District, also argued that the commission will address growing challenges youth development, instability and insecurity which has caused so many industries to exit states like Kano and Kaduna in droves.

After exhaustive debate on the bill, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio,  referred the bill to the Committee on Special Duties for further legislative action.