Date: 2010-04-24

In fulfillment of Governor Bukola Saraki-led administration’s commitment to have all rural communities in kwara State electrified before the end of 2010, the State Executive Council has approved the sum of N756 Million for the second phase of its rural electrification project.

The essence of the second phase is to ensure that all rural communities that were previously not covered in the first phase are connected to the National Grid to make life more bearable for the citizenry.

Similarly, the Council has also approved the construction of five additional roads across the State to enhance the socio-economic development of the State.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Ben Duntoye disclosed these in Ilorin, Wednesday, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.

Duntoye disclosed further that under the second phase, a total of 108 communities cutting across the three Senatorial Districts of the State are to be connected to the National Grid.

Speaking further on the electrification project, Commissioner for Energy, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed said the project would be completed within three months from the date of its commencement.

According to him, the project would be funded from the State/Local Government Joint Account and assured that all communities in the State would be connected to the National Grid by next year.

Alhaji Mohammed also disclosed that all the 105 communities under the first phase of the electrification project had been completed and energized.

He assured that his Ministry would ensure that the project was well executed to specification and completed within the time frame.

Speaking on the new roads recently approved by the Council, Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engineer Kola Shittu said all the road projects would be completed before the expiration of the tenure of the present administration.

According to him, the roads include Offa-Irra road, Offa-Garage-Michael Imoudu dualization, Oko-Idofin-Igbana-Idofin-Odo-Ashe road, Zulu-Gambari way, Post-Office-Ola-olu-ITC junction and Isanlu-Isin-Ijara-Isin road.

The 2.5km. dualization of Offa-Garage-Michael Imoudu road project, Shittu said, was awarded to Charvet Nig. Ltd at a cost of about N990Million, while the 16.97km. Offa-Irra road would gulp the sum of N549 Million.

Oko-Idofin-Igbana-Idofin-Odo-Ashe road, the Commissioner disclosed, was awarded to Construction Products Nig. Ltd at a cost of N572.4 Million, Post- Office-Ola-olu road, awarded to Borini Prono Nig. Ltd at a cost of N498 Million would be completed within 9 months.

Zulu-Gambari way, Shittu added, was awarded to Borini Prono for N257 Million with a completion period of 4 months.

Also awarded was Isanlu-Isin-Ijara-Isin road for the sum of N235 Million, which is expected to be completed in 10 months.

Engr. Shittu, however, solicited the support of the people of the State in the bid to using road development to fast-track the socio-economic transformation of the State.

Mas’ud Adebimpe

Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Government

22/04/10