A bill which seeks to create the Federal Capital Territory Satellite Towns Development Commission has passed its second reading on the floor of the Senate.
The piece of legislation is sponsored by Senator Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West on the platform of the Social Democratic Party.
In his lead debate, the senator told his colleagues that it was an initiative aimed at addressing the growth and infrastructure needs of the FCT Satellite Towns. He said that since the FCT is bounded by Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, and Kogi as contiguous states, it was necessary to address the challenges faced by the residents there.
Wadada noted that since its creation, the FCT has continued to see tremendous growth as Nigeria’s federal capital.
The rapid development of the nation’s capital, he added, came with a set of challenges, particularly for the satellite towns, which are all forced to accommodate the workforce of the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the proposed commission would cater to satellite towns that are to be determined by a 60-kilometre distance into all the contiguous states of the FCT.
Wadada said, “The FCT Satellite Towns Development Commission shall have the mandate to ameliorate the infrastructure deficits, manage urban sprawl, and promote sustainable development within the satellite towns.”
He argued that the FCT Satellite Towns Development Commission is set up for the rapid urbanisation of the FCT, which has resulted in an acute shortage of affordable housing, leading to a mass movement of people to the satellite towns
The development, he said, is creating informal settlements and slums.
He said, “This has led to overcrowding, lack of basic amenities, and poor living conditions, which further exacerbate poverty within some of the towns in the contiguous states.
“The migration of different ethnic groups into the satellite towns has continually led to cultural clashes between different groups with divergent values and lifestyles, which sometimes lead to tensions, especially when chasing scarce resources or competing for land and employment.
“The widening economic gap between Abuja and its surrounding towns has led to social inequalities, as those who have migrated into the satellite towns often face poor living conditions in informal settlements.
“This has resulted in high levels of crime, social unrest, inequality, and cultural homogenisation. As people from different parts of Nigeria flock to the satellite towns, the rich cultural diversity of the surrounding towns often gives way to a more homogenised national culture, causing the marginalisation of local cultures.
“This bill, if passed, will ameliorate the infrastructure deficits, manage urban sprawl, and promote sustainable development within the FCT satellite towns.
“The Commission’s role will include the development of essential infrastructure, such as roads, drainage systems, healthcare services, education, social services, and public utilities, such as waste management.
“The establishment of an FCT Satellite Towns Commission will be a conscious effort towards spreading development to all nooks and crannies of our nation.”
Senators, in their various contributions, supported the bill and contended that it would spread development to all the communities that border the FCT.
