A bill seeking to establish the South West Development Commission (SWDC) passed second reading in Senate on Wednesday.
The bill is being sponsored by Senator lbikunle Amosun (Ogun Central). He explained that the commission will act as catalyst to develop commercial and industrial potentials of the south west region.
In his lead debate, Amosun said the commission when finally established will also receive and manage funds from allocation of the federation for the agricultural and other related educational backwardness, as well as security and development challenges.
“In the pre-independence period up into the early post-independence era, Nigeria was made Up of three regions = Northern, Eastern and Western Regions. Midwestern Region was later carved out of the Western Region.
“In the Western Region, the founding fathers, had a development ideology, which focused on the empowerment of the people. A policy mix in such core areas as health, education, agriculture, employment, infrastructural development and a functional and efficient public service defined their agenda for the region.
“The free primary education scheme and the universal health programme were two elements of their governance agenda, which were meant to produce a vibrant human capital as a basis for sustainable growth of the region.
“The result of that policy mix was the transformation of the Southwest into an infrastructural paradise as experienced Up to the most remote of locations across the region. Years after, especially since the return of Nigeria to democracy, which has now gone unbroken for 20 years plus, nothing bears similitude in virtually all the six states of the Southwest to the progressive development and assured march to self-sufficiency of the old Western Region.
“There is a gloomy picture of a region that is alarmingly in dire lock on almost all fronts: a region that once provided leadership for other regions and indeed the entire country.
“Today, with an ever-increasing population due to rural-urban migration, facilities in the Southwest region, especially social amenities, are increasingly stretched, just as living standards continue to plummet. Majority of roads are calling for urgent attention. Many state-owned hospitals have inadequate medical personnel and equipment that can properly manage the health needs of patients.
“Educational institutions are not what they used to be. Industrial estates have become desolate, while a few which are still functional are struggling to remain in business,” Amosun stated.
Solomon Ayado, Abuja
