After reviewing a report from its Committee on Special Duties, the Senate on Thursday authorised the creation of the South West Development Commission.

The South West Development Commission Bill, 2024 was introduced by committee chairman Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (APC Borno Central), and then it was approved for a third reading by the Senate in plenary.

During his presentation, Kaka stated that the goals and objectives of the law are effectively organised to support the socioeconomic advancement of the South West.

In order to address infrastructural deficiencies and address ecological issues in the area, the Commission—should the bill be enacted with the president’s assent—will get funding from the Federation Account and donations from development partners, just like other development-driven commissions established on a zonal basis, he stated.

As a result, the Senate proceeded to review the bill in Committee of the Whole, reading it aloud three times before discussing each clause in turn.

The Senate’s Deputy President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who chaired the meeting, praised the Kaka-led committee for a job well done in his remarks following the bill’s passing.

He said that the South West Development Commission, along with other recently formed ones, would deal with the ecological and infrastructure issues in the

Accelerating the development of the entire nation is the main goal of the several development commissions that are being established.

He declared, “President Bola Tinubu will undoubtedly assent to this one. He has already given his assent to similar bills passed for zonal development-driven interventions.”