When the present administration in Kwara State, under the leadership of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, took over the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2011, he had then pledged that his administration would ensure the completion of all the uncompleted projects and embark on new ones in order to accelerate the socio economic development of Kwarans.

The administration, which was christened as 'Legacy Continues', was put in place based on the conviction that all the uncompleted projects of the immediate past administration of former governor Bukola Saraki in areas of infrastructure like roads, hospitals, education, water, and electricity among others must see the light of the day so as to add values to the people of the state.

This made Saraki, now Senator representing Kwara central senatorial district of the state at the National Assembly, to lead the governorship campaign across the 16 local government councils of the state, which led to the massive votes recorded by Governor Ahmed during the last general elections in the state.

The Kwarans came out to vote en-masse for the continuity agenda and this eventually brought the incumbent governor of the state into power. In demonstration of this continuity agenda of the administration, the government collected the data of all these uncompleted projects in a bid to ensure that they were prioritised; thereby making sure that the administration starts work on them on time for the benefit of all the populace.

However, in showing to the full complement of the agenda, the administration recently rolled out drums to celebrate the administration’s three years in office with the completion of all these uncompleted projects across the state. Among such infrastructure that witnessed a new look during the celebration were the unveiling of some roads that were inherited from the past administration as part of the continuity of projects in the state.

Unveiling the Roads

These roads unveiling cut across the three senatorial districts of the state. For example, there is Lafiaji township road and Patigi/Paada road, while all processes for the Kaiama-Kishi road, a federal government road, have been completed; awaiting release of funds to the contractors. Also, the road leading to border with Ekiti state was initiated by the previous administration and completed by this administration.

There are quite a few of those roads, and Ira/Offa road, Offa/Ipe, Oro/Ijomu road, Isin/Ijara-Isin, Omu-Aran-Landmark University road are examples, all in Kwara South senatorial area of the state.

For Kwara central senatorial area, the administration completed and unveiled some roads in the district. Such roads include Sulu Gambari road linking Post Office area of the state capital, Ilorin; Ahmadu Bello way linking Government House road; Government House- Fate road; Fate Akerebiata road, Fate-GSS road, Police 'A' Division Road to Tate and Lyle, Afon-Ganmo road.

The administration ensured that all the afore-mentioned roads projects were evenly distributed across the state.

Projects Galore

Other inherited projects completed and unveiled during the year under review include Ilorin International Aviation College, Diagnostic Centre, Kwara State University Engineering complex. Even, the ongoing International Vocational center at Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun local government council, which was initiated by the immediate past administration, was almost completed by the present administration.

However, the present administration initiated new projects which were completed and unveiled during the third year of the administration in the state.

Among such projects include the renovation of five General Hospitals in the state. They are Ilorin General Hospital, Share General Hospital, Kaima General Hospital, Offa General Hospital and Omu-Aran General Hospital. Apart from renovating them, the administration also equipped them with modern facilities and medical personnel so as to enhance healthcare delivery to the populace. The administration also embarked on construction of modern market at Tsaragi in Edu local government council of the state to boost the socio economic growth of the people. There was also expansion of Sango-Oyun road to ease the vehicular movement of the people passing through this road to the state Polytechnic and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital complex and other adjoining towns and villages in the affected route.

The administration, in a landmark move, filled all road potholes associated with erosion across the state and these also allowed the motorists to move freely without any hindrance in the state. That programme tagged 'Operation No Potholes' was done within 100 days of the administration in the state.

Empowering the Youths

The administration also embraced the youth employment scheme so as to reduce youth unemployment in the state. As at the last count, no fewer than 8,500 youths have been employed through Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme and QuickWin scheme put in place by the government.

Also, artisans who cut across various works were provided with soft loans so as to enable them contribute their quota towards the economic growth of the state.

Civil servants were exposed to various training so as to enhance their performances and some of them benefited from various promotion exercises, while their salaries and allowances were paid as at when due. Teachers in primary and post primary schools were not left out too as the administration ensured that they were well taken care of in the scheme of things, so as to boost the educational growth of the state.

Water for All

On the issue of water supply, the administration has ensured that all the dams were being attended to so as to boost the constant supply of water to the residents of the state. The Obbo-Aiyegunle waterworks was completed and unveiled during the year under review. The Pepele water works was also initiated, completed and launched during the period for the benefit of the people of the area.

The Ilorin major water project is still being attended to, as the administration has finalised arrangement to raise more funds to ensure its fullest completion, so that the residents of Ilorin and its environment can have access to potable water supply in the state.

The administration also ensured the sinking of over 400 boreholes across the three senatorial districts of the state so as to complement the efforts of the government in ensuring that the people of the state have access to quality water supply.

Revamping Power Supply

On the power supply scenario, the administration ensured that all the obsolete transformers located across the three senatorial districts of the state were replaced with new ones, despite the fact that the power sector had been privatised by the federal government.

This effort was just to ensure that the people of the state live in peace, as darkness in one area or the other can harbour men of the underworld to cause nuisance and social vices like armed robbery in the state. This giant stride was to complement the administration's efforts in the illumination of various areas in the state with street lights so as to ensure that people move without fear of being attacked by men of the underworld in the state.

As at the time of filing this report, no fewer than 189 communities have benefited from both rural and urban electrification projects of the present administration during the year under review. This development has improved the economy of both rural and urban residents. Some of the artisans that had been engaged as Okada riders have since returned to their workshops; knowing fully that there is power supply to operate their equipment.

Best Practice

By and large, the state government has tried to deliver dividends of democracy to people of the state based on what it called scarce resources. The present administration is therefore expecting the people to continue support for the APC-led government to maintain its superiority in the political calculation of the state.