Senator Benson Sunday Agadaga has said that expanding the list of recognized border communities under the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) will help address insecurity by bringing development and federal presence to neglected settlements across the country.
The lawmaker, who represents Bayelsa East Senatorial District, made the assertion after the Senate passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Border Communities Development Agency Act, 2006.
Speaking on the rationale behind the proposed legislation, Agadaga explained that the bill seeks to expand the list of recognized border communities and correct administrative discrepancies affecting some settlements along the Bayelsa-Rivers State boundary. 
According to him, the amendment is aimed at ensuring equitable development and inclusion for communities that have remained outside the scope of federal interventions despite their strategic importance.
“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 noted that border communities serve as Nigeria’s first points of contact for visitors entering the country through land and waterways, making it imperative for government to provide them with adequate infrastructure and social services.
“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,” he stated.
Agadaga observed that although more than 3,000 communities are currently recognized under the BCDA framework, many deserving coastal settlements in Bayelsa State and other parts of the country remain excluded from the programme.
He identified communities in Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas as strategic coastal settlements that play significant roles in Nigeria’s maritime and economic activities but have yet to benefit from federal interventions available to other border communities.
“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.
The lawmaker also disclosed that some communities currently listed under Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State are geographically located in Rivers State, creating administrative inconsistencies that require correction.
He said the proposed amendment would ensure that genuine border communities receive their rightful share of development projects and government support.
While emphasizing that the bill is primarily focused on development, Agadaga argued that improved infrastructure and economic opportunities would inevitably contribute to enhanced security in affected communities.
“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.
According to him, poverty and unemployment are major drivers of criminal activities, and addressing developmental deficits would help reduce insecurity.
“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.
The senator expressed confidence that the bill would complete the legislative process and eventually receive presidential assent, paving the way for greater inclusion, federal presence and sustainable development in coastal and border communities nationwide.
He urged his colleagues in the National Assembly to support the amendment, describing it as a measure designed to promote fairness, inclusion and national development.
“This amendment is about fairness, inclusion and national development. It is about ensuring that no deserving border community is left behind,” he said.
