***Promises transformative leadership, grassroots impact, and strategic investment
The Senate Committee on the South-West Development Commission has unveiled an ambitious plan to drive transformative regional development, positioning the newly established Commission as a national model for inclusive growth, infrastructure renewal, and economic empowerment.
At its inaugural session held Tuesday at the Senate New Building, members of the Committee laid out a bold roadmap to revitalize the South-West region through strategic coordination, grassroots engagement, and innovation-driven planning.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Yunus Abiodun Akintunde, opened the session by invoking the legacy of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), describing it as a solid foundation of data, strategic insight, and regional consensus.
“The South-West is Nigeria’s industrial and commercial hub,” Senator Akintunde said. “Our forebears have handed us a legacy and a template. It is now our duty to hand our children a banner without stain.”
He emphasized the need for the Commission to move beyond bureaucracy and paper mandates toward concrete, people-focused results.
“This is a mandate for action—not red tape,” he declared. “We are building a Commission that delivers jobs, roads, innovation hubs, and real opportunities. The people must feel the impact.”
Senator Akintunde outlined a governance approach anchored on transparency, innovation, and accountability, adding that every intervention will be tailored to the practical needs of communities across the six South-West states—Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti.
A key early assignment for the Committee is the screening of presidential nominees for the Commission’s leadership. Akintunde assured Nigerians that the process would be thorough and merit-based.
“The calibre of leadership we approve will determine the success or failure of this Commission. We intend to get it right from day one,” he affirmed.
He also tied the Committee’s vision to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the South-West Development Commission as a critical component in delivering equity, opportunity, and balanced development nationwide.
The Committee’s priority areas include:
Upgrading infrastructure: roads, electricity, housing, and broadband
Empowering youth through tech, skills, and entrepreneurship
Revitalizing agriculture and supporting local industries
Attracting private-sector investment through policy and partnerships
Beyond funding, Akintunde said the Committee will champion reform-driven legislation to institutionalize public-private partnerships, drive innovation, and promote community ownership of development initiatives.
“For us, development is not theory—it is delivery,” he stated. “We want citizens to feel the change in their daily lives—from better roads and healthcare to jobs and responsive governance.”
Several senators echoed the Chairman’s remarks. Senator Wasiu Eshilokun emphasized the need for integrated planning and efficient resource deployment.
“If we act in silos, we fail. Let us coordinate and consolidate for full impact,” Eshilokun said.
Another senator called for strategic infrastructure linkages, including improved road connectivity between Shagamu and Kwara State, to drive intra-regional trade and movement.
“We must fix our roads if we want integration. Federal or not, we must act.”
Cautioning against the missteps of other regional bodies, a senator warned: “Let us not go the way of the North East Development Commission, which began without proper planning. With foresight and discipline, this Commission can be the best-performing in Nigeria within two to three years.”
Clarifying the Committee’s role, another lawmaker said, “Our job is not to execute projects but to ensure the Commission functions effectively as laid out in Section 7 of the Act. We must be vigilant but also realistic about our constitutional responsibilities.”
As momentum builds, stakeholders say the South-West Development Commission could become a model for regional planning and federalism—if anchored in integrity, competence, and consistent oversight.
