A bill seeking to establish the North West Development Commission passed second reading at the senate on Thursday.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin informed the Senate of the fact that the bill had been approved by the Ninth National Assembly but did not receive the signature of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Barau stated that the purpose of the bill was 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 noted that the zone has experienced a significant lack of development.
“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 par with the more developed zones in the country,” he said.
“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,” he added.
