Senate Confident South West Dev’t Commission Will Bridge Infrastructure Deficits

The Senate on Tuesday affirmed that the South West Development Commission (SWDC) will not only thrive, but also make a significant difference by bridging infrastructural deficits and accelerating overall development in the South West region.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South West Development, Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC, Oyo Central), gave the assurance during the inaugural meeting of the committee in Abuja.

Senator Akintunde at the meeting outlined a bold and ambitious roadmap for transforming the region into a national model of integrated development, economic revitalisation, and infrastructure renewal.

He referenced the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) as a legacy framework that already provides strong data, strategies, and regional buy-in.

Akintunde also emphasised the need for the Commission to leverage this groundwork, engage stakeholders across the six South West states, and create a development model that can be replicated nationwide.

“The South West is the industrial and commercial hub of Nigeria. Our forebears have handed us a legacy and a template — it is now our duty to hand our children a banner without stain,” he said.

He added that the goal of the Commission under the Senate oversight is not just to function, but to thrive and leave a lasting impact on the region’s development.

“The Commission must move beyond paper mandates to real-world impact. This is a mandate for action, not bureaucracy. We are committed to building a Commission that delivers results, jobs, roads, innovation hubs, and real opportunities for our people,” he stated.

Senator Akintunde further assured that the Committee will operate on the principles of transparency, innovation, and accountability, ensuring that every intervention responds to the practical needs of communities in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States.

Other Senators who spoke at the inaugural meeting echoed the Chairman’s vision, highlighting infrastructure and human capital development as the twin pillars for the Commission’s success.