Date: 2014-05-12

Anyone either indigene or non indigene who is visiting Ilorin, the Kwara state capital for the first time in the last one decade will surely miss his ways unless he asks for directions.

The reason for this is very simple. Ilorin, the capital of the state of harmony is wearing a new look.

The town has in the last 10 years witnessed massive infrastructural development, first from the administration of Dr Bukola Saraki who governed the state for eight years.

Saraki's anointed successor, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is also consolidating on the achievements of his predecessor, especially in the area of infrastructural development.

This is not surprising because Governor Ahmed was part of the Saraki's administration for eight years where he held sway as commissioner for Finance for about seven years and spent the remaining one year as commissioner for planning.

Because of his background as a banker of no means repute,Governor Ahmed played a leading role in the economic development of the state during the Saraki's time.

The metamorphosis of the hitherto predominantly 'civil servant town' to a modern one is paying off as investors and tourists alike get attracted to Ilorin.

The volume of human and vehicular traffic that characterize many of the roads in the metropolis attest to Ilorin's new status of a modern town.

The event centres and shopping malls are now springing up like mushrooms in the city. In fact the commercial verve of the community has had a meteoric rise in the period under review.

The commencement of business activities by the Shoprite well over a year ago is an eloquent testimony to the transformation of Ilorin to modernity.

The state government's massive investment on road rehabilitation and reconstruction in the state capital has also help greatly in boosting the economy of the state.

The government's policy of 'operation no pothole' is ensuring the patching of pot-hole ridden roads in the town.

Accordingly, the state government has empowered the Kwara state Roads Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) financially to be alive to its responsibilities.

Some of the projects that have been completed by the Ahmed's administration include International Aviation College, Kwara Advanced Diagnostic Centre, Ilorin Cargo Terminal, New Ilorin General Hospital, Kwara Mall (Shoprite), Fate-GSS Roundabout Road, Umaru Audi Road, GRA Stadium Road, Ejiba Road.

The administration has also carried out the beautification of the following roundabouts: Murtala/Unity junction, ministry of works roundabout, Fate roundabout.

Also,under its urban renewal drive, the state has lit Maraba to Zango, Geri Alimi-Abdulazeez Attah and Offa Garage-Michael Imoudu roads all in Ilorin.

The state government said it had expended the sum of N30 billion on construction and rehabilitation of rural-urban roads in its almost three years in office.

The state commissioner for Works, Alhaji Abubakar Amuda- Kannike, said the state government would complete all inherited road projects in all parts of the state in December.

Some of the ongoing projects in the town include Catchment-Agba Dam road, Umar Audi road, Flower Garden bridge, GRA road network, Oke-Andi-Taoheed road, Akerebiata channelisation, Opo Maalu-Isale Maliki road and Alawonla-Dad road.

Others include Abayawo-Guniyan Asalapa road, Kokoronkan road, Henry George-Mini Campus road, Apron-Taxi way road, NAMA building, Lao-Airport road, Garage Offa-Dangote Road, NNPC Pipeline Bridge and Abdulsalam Alao road.

Said he: "Part of the reason for embarking on the projects was informed by the need to facilitate development that would contain better economic activities, leading to better Internally Generated Revenue IGR and better infrastructure for the people that elected is into power."

Kannike who said a sum of N30 million was released monthly by the government to fix pot holes particularly during rainy season, added that the purpose was to prevent the pot holes from becoming big problem in future that could lead to eventual reconstruction.

He said the N30 million released every month would be spent on construction of new roads during dry season when there is less pot holes on the roads.

The commissioner also said that the state government planned to commence tariff-driven all-street systemic parking in the metropolis, adding that there is need to manage high influx of vehicles and make cities organized.

At the commissioning of the Ultra- modern diagnostic centre in Ilorin, Governor Ahmed hoped to generate considerable internal revenue by providing advanced medical diagnosis at competitive rates.

He said that the center would be run through a Public-Private-Partnership with a highly reputable firm.

He said that the commissioning was another milestone in the history of the state's and Nigeria's health sector, adding that it was part of the fulfillment of his administration's commitment to providing qualitative health care to the people of the state in particular and the nation in general.

The governor said that the establishment of the centre is to promote the early detection and management of illness, especially non-communicable diseases.

"I am pleased to note that the state-of-the art center has some of the most modern diagnostic equipment in this country."

Speaking recently at the maiden graduation of the state owned Aviation College, Ilorin Ahmed said that: "Today, well-trained aviators and allied professionals remain premium in the aviation industry in Nigeria and abroad. As the aviation sector expands, due to a global increase in requirement for air travel and the consequent increase in aircraft, so does the demand for well-trained aviation professionals to run the industry.

"On 30th June 2012, when I flagged-off the flight training of this college, I charged the board and the management to strictly adhere to all training and safety procedures, in line with regulations and to also ensure students graduate on schedule.

"I am happy to hear that this crop of students graduated in 16 months as opposed to the advertised 18 months due to the management's emphasis on high training standards and the high calibre of its trainers. I therefore charge IAC to maintain this high standard of safety and quality in its operation.

"It is equally pleasing to note that the IAC intends to expand its operations in the coming year through the introduction of aviation management and engineering courses leading to the award of degrees by the Kwara State University, Malete.

"The college will also build additional hostels, expand the hanger, provide a sport complex and a workshop for aircraft repairs and maintenance."

Former governor of the state, whose administration started the aviation college at different forum said that "the college is adequately equipped to train pilot and aircraft engineers that can compete with their colleagues in Europe and America in international best practices.

"The former governor also played a major role in making sure that the Nigeria Air force sited its multi million naira ultra modern maintenance hangar in the state where airline companies can come to maintain their fleet.