Senate passes bill to protect Nigeria’s border communities

Senate has passed a bill aimed at bringing development to the country’s border communities by strengthening the legal framework that would provide additional source of funding for the Border Communities Development Agency.

The bill, an Act to amend the Border Communities Development Agency Act Cap, B10 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, was sponsored by Senator Olufemi Lanlehin.
The joint committee, which worked on the bill noted that the agency, in collaboration with the office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, would identify settlements, villages and towns across 108 local government areas in 21 states that are 15 kilometers from the nation’s borders, for effective policing and massive development.
It listed the affected states to include Adamawa,  Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa,  Benue,  Borno, Cross River, Delta,  Jigawa,  Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara,  Lagos,  Niger, Ogun,  Oyo,  Ondo, Rivers, Sokoto,  Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
The bill proposed the deduction of at least 20 percent from the Ecological Funds to tackle infrastructure decay, and provide health facilities, schools, and adequate security arrangements in all the affected communities.
In his comments, Senate President David Mark noted that there were lots of problems confronting the country that could be attributed to the neglect of border communities.post by expdonaloaded