Tinubu Strengthens North-Central with New Development Commission Law
President Bola Tinubu has signed into law a bill that establishes the North Central Development Commission. The new commission aims to bolster economic growth and infrastructure within the North-Central geopolitical zone, addressing long-standing calls for regional development.
The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a Senate session on Tuesday. Akpabio also revealed that the president has approved other vital bills, including the establishment of a federal polytechnic in Rano, Kano state, and a federal university of health sciences in Tsafe, Zamfara state. These moves are seen as part of Tinubu’s broader effort to foster educational and infrastructural development across the country.
While Akpabio did not specify the exact date of the signings, his remarks came just one day after Tinubu gave his approval to a bill creating a Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni, Rivers state. The Ogoni region has long been associated with activism for environmental justice, particularly in relation to the oil industry’s impact on the area.
At the signing ceremony held at the Presidential Villa on Monday, Tinubu emphasized that the new university would play a crucial role in addressing the environmental challenges faced by the Ogoni people, as well as expanding educational opportunities across the entire Niger Delta region. “For decades, the Ogoni people have been at the forefront of the fight for environmental restoration and sustainable development, shaping both national and global conversations on these critical issues,” Tinubu stated.
The Ogoni people have a rich history of activism against environmental degradation, notably led by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) in the early 1990s. Under the leadership of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, MOSOP gained international attention for its campaign against the destruction of Ogoni land caused by oil exploration. This movement sparked widespread protests and significant tensions with the Nigerian government.
