The House of Representatives on Wednesday began consideration of a bill seeking to establish the National Commission for Rural Infrastructure and Development.
The sponsor of the bill argued that Nigeria cannot achieve sustainable economic growth while millions of rural residents lack access to basic infrastructure and economic opportunities.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill during plenary, the sponsor, Saidu Abdullahi (APC, Niger), described rural development as “a strategic economic priority” rather than a social intervention.
Abdullahi said that despite decades of public investment and development planning, Nigeria’s largest infrastructure deficit remains in rural communities, where most of the population lives and where much of the country’s agricultural production and natural resources are located.
According to Abdullahi, the proposed commission would provide a national framework for financing, coordinating, monitoring and supporting rural infrastructure and development programmes across the federation.
“No nation can attain sustainable economic growth while neglecting the communities that produce its food, supply its raw materials and sustain its local economy. Rural development must therefore be regarded not merely as a social obligation but as a strategic economic priority,” he said.
The bill (HB 2795), first read on July 9, 2026, also proposes the establishment of a National Rural Development Fund to provide sustainable financing for infrastructure projects in rural communities.
Abdullahi explained that while existing Ministries, Departments and Agencies oversee sectors such as roads, agriculture, water resources, power, education and health, no single institution currently coordinates rural infrastructure development nationwide.
“The proposed commission is therefore not intended to replace or duplicate the statutory functions of existing Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Rather, it is designed to complement and strengthen their efforts by providing a unified institutional framework for financing, coordination, policy guidance, monitoring, technical assistance and performance evaluation,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with intervention agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the Universal Basic Education Commission, the lawmaker said NACRID would focus on financing, coordination and oversight rather than direct project implementation.
He said projects would be executed mainly through State Rural Infrastructure and Development Boards or designated state agencies under a counterpart funding model similar to that of UBEC.
Under the proposal, state governments would prepare Rural Development Action Plans, provide counterpart funding, implement approved projects and account for the utilisation of intervention funds.
According to Abdullahi, the arrangement would strengthen accountability, promote state ownership and encourage collaboration across the three tiers of government.
The proposed Rural Development Fund would be financed through federal appropriations, grants, support from development partners, private sector contributions, counterpart funding by states, investment income and other lawful sources approved by the National Assembly.
