By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Federal lawmaker representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Senator Benson Sunday Agadaga has defended his proposed amendment to the Border Communities Development Agency Act, 2006, saying the legislation is aimed at correcting longstanding exclusions and ensuring equitable development for neglected coastal and border communities across Nigeria.
Agadaga spoke shortly after the Senate passed the amendment bill for second reading, describing the proposal as a critical intervention to address developmental disparities affecting several communities that have remained outside the scope of federal border community programmes.
According to the lawmaker, the bill seeks to expand the list of communities recognized under the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) and correct administrative anomalies affecting settlements located along the Bayelsa-Rivers State boundary.
He disclosed that the legislation had been under consideration since last year and expressed satisfaction that it had now crossed a major legislative hurdle.
“This is a bill that is very dear to me because it concerns communities that have been overlooked for too long. I thank God that it has finally seen the light of day,” he said.
The senator stressed that border communities occupy a strategic position in Nigeria’s territorial and economic landscape, serving as the first point of contact for visitors entering the country through land and coastal routes.
He argued that such communities deserve special government attention because they project the image of the nation and contribute significantly to economic activities.
“When people come into Nigeria from neighboring countries or through our coastal routes, the first Nigerians they encounter are those living in border communities. These communities represent the image of our country and should not be left without basic infrastructure and social amenities,” Agadaga stated.
While noting that over 3,000 communities are currently captured under the BCDA framework, the senator lamented that several deserving coastal settlements in Bayelsa and other states remain excluded from federal interventions.
He specifically identified communities in Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas as strategic coastal settlements that play important roles in Nigeria’s maritime economy and oil and gas sector.
“Bayelsa State has one of the longest coastlines in Nigeria. We are at the heart of the country’s oil and gas production. The economy of the nation depends significantly on resources produced from our region. It is only fair that our communities benefit from the same federal interventions available to other border communities across the country,” he said.
Agadaga also pointed to what he described as administrative discrepancies in the existing framework, explaining that some communities currently listed under Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are geographically located in Rivers State.
He said the proposed amendment seeks to correct such anomalies and ensure that genuine border communities in Bayelsa receive their rightful share of development programmes and federal support.
The lawmaker emphasized that the primary objective of the bill is to drive development and improve living conditions in underserved communities rather than address security concerns directly.
According to him, access to basic infrastructure such as potable water, electricity, schools, healthcare facilities and economic opportunities would significantly improve the quality of life of residents and promote national development.
“This bill is not fundamentally about insecurity. It is about attracting federal government attention to neglected communities. If people have access to potable water, electricity, schools, healthcare and economic opportunities, they become more productive and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
He added that improved infrastructure and social services would also help reduce poverty and unemployment, which are often linked to criminal activities.
“When communities are developed and people can provide for their families, the temptation to engage in kidnapping or other criminal activities is greatly reduced. Development itself becomes a tool for promoting security,” he added.
Agadaga expressed confidence that the bill would successfully scale the remaining legislative stages and secure presidential assent, paving the way for broader federal intervention in coastal and border communities across the country.
He appealed to members of the National Assembly to support the legislation, describing it as a measure designed to promote fairness, inclusion and balanced national development.
“This amendment is about fairness, inclusion and national development. It is about ensuring that no deserving border community is left behind,” the senator said.
