Date: 2016-06-07

If tough decisions are not taken, it will remain impossible for Nigerian government at all levels to meet up the escalating public demands in this period of economic downturn.

Just like its counterparts across the federation, the Kwara State government has found herself in the tightest situation of fulfilling two major obligations, exigently unavoidable that one can never be postponed for the other (social welfare and infrastructural overhauling). As it stands, it will be logical to say that the wisdom of killing two beds with a singular stone must be deployed if the government will scale through its present challenges.

There are instances of states that unintentionally imposed eventual hardship on their people in the quest of aiming infrastructural feats. Unlike them, Kwara State has remained much more focused on meeting fundamental obligations of workers' salary, public safety and welfare, paying attention to health, agriculture and other critical sectors of the economy. For a robust economic evolvement, however, it will no longer be productive to remain confined in such zone that the government will not step out to execute lagging infrastructural projects.

Coming along with new packs of plans for his second term, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed did announce a proposed N20million bond to facilitate and bridge the infrastructural gap of the State. Trailing this expectedly, there emerged mixed reactions, approving and disapproving the proposal at different hands. Although the calls for absolute prudence were germane, what was undebatable was the fact that the outlined projects were actually needed for the development of the State.

It should be stated that a concord was reached between the people and the government for the infrastructural deficits to be treated side by side with the 'stomach infrastructural' needs of the people. The new promises, not bearing in mind the economic constraints perhaps, have placed herculean burdens on the Megida's administration with Kwarans expecting the Maraba-UITH road dualized, KWASU satellite campuses established in Osi and Ilesha Baruba, Kishi-Kaiama road fixed, and Ganmo road expanded among others.

It would be a disgraceful disappointment if the government that had wetted the appetite of its people by the promise of rehabilitating the state and broadening survival opportunities should cry off. What would appear, so far, as avoidance of such event are the bold decisions taken already by the government on infrastructural projects despite the continued fall in federal allocation that accrue to the state.

But despite the persistent decline in revenues, the present administration in Kwara has embarked on different people-oriented projects in the State. Early this year, Governor Ahmed approved the release of N2.4b to contractors handling various road projects across the State.

In March, the governor performed the groundbreaking of an ultra modern shopping and office complex along Fate road, Ilorin. Barely a week after that, Governor Ahmed also performed the foundation laying of a 1000-housing unit at Budo-Osho area of Ilorin to bridge the housing deficit in the State.

Kwarans would rather need to create means of placing the government on new oaths so as to build renewed trust, or else the state will continue to fall short if agitations from certain quarters that only bellies should be fed continue to lift the trophy.

Last week, the State Executive Council approved the construction of Geri Alimi diamond underpass, dualisation of Michael Imoudu- Ganmo road and Sango-UITH road. I believe these are laudable projects and are long-due. We should appreciate the effort of the state government to execute these projects considering their benefits to the people.

Notwithstanding, the payment of salaries to workers should also be a major concern of the government, even though, we can't relegate the responsibility of government to payment of salary alone. But it is our hope that the lingering salary crisis, particularly at the local government will be resolved soon.

Kwara state needs development!