By Fatima Saka
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the socio-cultural organization representing the 19 Northern States, commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for endorsing the North West Development Commission (NWDC) Bill into law.
President Tinubu, on Tuesday, approved the Bill introduced by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, to expedite progress in the North West geopolitical zone, encompassing Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
The North-West Development Commission is established to facilitate the restoration of roads, residences, and commercial properties ravaged by multifaceted crises, and to address issues such as poverty, literacy levels, ecological concerns, and any other pertinent environmental or developmental obstacles in the North-Western states.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, ACF, Professor T. A. Muhammad-Baba expressed that the formation of the commission will tackle the dilemmas confronting the geopolitical zone.
“ACF extends sincere appreciation and thanks to the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for endorsing the bill into law. The Deputy President of the 10th Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin – the initiator of the bill, along with all those who contributed to its enactment, also merit our gratitude.
“It is an understatement to say that the seven states comprising this region – Kebbi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, have encountered developmental obstacles.
“With an approximate total population of 49 million (or 28% of Nigeria’s overall population), 45.5 million (93%) continue to grapple with multidimensional poverty, with an intensity ratio of 42.7%, as of 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Consequently, the Northwest lingers at the bottom of all developmental indices and living standards in Nigeria.
“The region, plagued by ongoing insecurity, banditry, and associated challenges, serving as the epicenter of insecurity and terrorism, emphasizes the necessity for collective effort to ensure that the new legislation will effectively utilize the resources allocated to the Commission to make a discernible impact on the populace.
“Unified efforts are imperative to ensure that the numerous and predominantly agricultural populace of this region will witness the eradication of the shadows of underdevelopment from their surroundings entirely. Once again, gratitude to Mr. President and all those who ensured the enactment of this law. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” ACF conveyed.
