A bill, South West Development Commission (SWEDCO) passed first reading on the floor of the Senate at Thursday plenary.
The bill listed as the eleventh bill for Senate consideration was sponsored by the immediate past Ogun State governor and senator representing, Ogun Central, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and 36 other Senators.
A similar bill, South-East Development Commission which was passed by the Eight Senate but failed to receive presidential assent was on Wednesday re-introduced and passed first reading.
It was sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra North).
The South West Development Commission Bill according to Senator Amosun was meant to bring to the fore the huge infrastructure deficit suffered by the southwest region, frustrating the zone from reaching its full potential by ultimately bringing development to the Southwest.
He said: “Clearly it is for the development of our people and our area. If a part of a whole is not well then the whole will not be well. Clearly, every part of Nigeria should feel concerned about the need to develop their place. And if all of us develop our place, of course, we will have a beautiful country that everybody will be proud of.
“If you look at even the population of Nigeria, just look at how many are we from the South West? I am saying this with all sense of responsibility, there is no part of Nigeria that is not important. All of us are.
