While considering the report on Thursday which was submitted by the Senate Committee on Special Duties to the Committee of the whole, lawmakers were unanimous in their contribution that the North West deserves a Commission due to developmental challenges occasioned by insecurity.
The bill to establish the commission was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin and 20 other senators from the seven states in the North West geopolitical zone.
Having moved a motion for consideration of the report by the Committee Chairman, Shehu Lawan Kaka representing Borno Central Senatorial District and seconded by Senator Ireti Kingibe representing FCT, Kaka urged lawmakers to support the bill, noting that the intention of the bill was well known to all.
He said: “The intention of the bill are well structured and strategically streamlined for the socio-economic development of the North West geopolitical zone of the country.”
He added that the presence of the Federal Government would be felt in zone, if it becomes a law and I assented by President Tinubu.
After contributions by some Senators in, favour of the report, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau who presides over the plenary passed it for third reading after votes by the Senators.
In his remarks, Senator Barau commended his colleagues for supporting the bill’s passage.
When established, he said the commission would address the challenges facing the geopolitical zone and, by extension, the country.
Describing the North West as the food basket of the country, he said the commission, when established, will work towards the restoration of infrastructure destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents and bandits in the region.
“So if we are serious about ensuring we have food and for food security to be attained in this country, we must provide the necessary infrastructure for all our key sectors to thrive well”, he said.
