The Nigerian Senate has advanced a bill proposing the establishment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Satellite Towns Development Commission, with the legislation passing its second reading. Sponsored by Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the bill aims to address infrastructure deficits and promote sustainable development in satellite towns surrounding the FCT.
During the session, Senator Wadada explained that the proposed commission would oversee infrastructure growth, manage urban sprawl, and mitigate developmental challenges in these areas. He emphasized that the rapid expansion of the FCT has disproportionately impacted neighboring towns, which suffer from inadequate public services and overstretched infrastructure due to population influxes.
“The creation of the FCT has brought socio-economic and political opportunities but has also left neighboring towns struggling with underdevelopment and stark economic divides,” Wadada noted.
The bill suggests extending the commission’s jurisdiction up to 60 kilometers into states bordering the FCT, including Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, and Kogi.
Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the proposal, stressing the urgency of addressing the infrastructural challenges faced by satellite towns. “This bill is crucial for correcting anomalies caused by haphazard urban growth and overstretched facilities,” he remarked.
Following the debates, the Senate tasked its Committee on FCT with reviewing the bill and submitting a report within two weeks.
The initiative, first introduced on October 22, 2024, has been described as a significant step toward bridging the development gap between Abuja and its neighboring towns.
