Date: 2011-10-31

Following the success of the state government’s Operation No Potholes, which sought to rid the Ilorin, the state capital of road gullies, the Kwara State Government has approved a further N300 million to the Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWAMA) for road rehabilitation. A breakdown of the figure shows that the agency receives N25 million per month for road repairs and construction. The decision comes as the state government resolved to rehabilitate federal roads within the state which have social and economic importance to the people.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed who made the announcement in Ilorin said the approval was based on his recognition of the importance of an efficient road network to economic and social activities of the people, but also as part of his efforts to reinstate the maintenance culture in public works in order to protect government investment in such utilities. In addition, he said, the move was designed to ease vehicular and human traffic in the metropolis.

Speaking further, Governor Ahmed said that state government would award supplementary contracts where KWAMA’s budget falls short of the scale of road rehabilitation required in a particular month. On the issue of dilapidated federal roads in the state, he said government was prepared to rehabilitate such roads and seek a refund from the Federal Government, adding that roads were vital to the welfare of the people who he said are more interested viable infrastructure rather than in who was responsible for such utilities, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede. Furthermore, Governor Ahmed said the state government has concluded plans to open up other areas of the state with new roads based on their potential to support other key sectors of the state economy such as Energy, Health, Solid Mineral Development, Agriculture and Education.

The on-going road projects in Ilorin include the A’ Division to ITC, Pakata-Sooto Street, the widening of the road shoulder on Kulende-Zango Road to Oyun Bridge, Ola Olu-CBN Road and Obaro Road, GRA. The state government has also awarded contracts for key roads outside the state capital such as the Oko Bridge and Road, the Chikanda-Kosobosu Road Project, the Construction of Oko-Odofin, Igbana-Odo Ase Road, Offa-Ira Road, Eruku Township Road, and the Omu-Aran Township-Landmark University Road among others.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor,
(Media and Communication),
Government House,
Ilorin.

31/10/2011