Date: 2016-05-31

One year into its second term, the Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed administration in Kwara State has said road rehabilitation cost is N3.2 billion this year.

The sum covers completed and ongoing projects. The administration was confident that it achieved some feat in infrastructure development last year.

Early this year, it said it would spend N56 billion on infrastructure across the 16 local government areas of the state. The governor added that out of the amount, the administration would source N20 billion bonds from the capital market, explaining that bond "is one of the ways we will device to execute capital project in the in-coming year."

Alhaji Ahmed then listed the projects to be executed with the N20 billion to include construction of Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara Road; rehabilitation of Kaiama-Kishi Road, dualisation of Michael Imoudu-Ganmo Road; dualisation of Zango-University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and completion of Ilorin water reticulation project.

Others are construction of flyover bridge at Gari-Alimi Roundabout in Ilorin to ease traffic in the area; purchase of 860 transformers for rural electrification; sinking of 938 boreholes in all the 16 local government areas of the state; equipping the yet-to-be-commissioned International Vocational Centre in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun local government area, establishment of the Kwara state University (KWASU) branches in Osi and Ilesha-Baruba in Ekiti and Baruten local councils.

Despite the shortfalls in the monthly accruals from the federation account and the lean resources of the state government, Governor Ahmed-led government has recorded some achievements on road rehabilitation in the last one year.

Reeling out some of the administration's achievements, Works and Transport Commissioner Alhaji Aro Yahaya said the state approved the release of N3.2b for the completion of outstanding roads rehabilitation in the state. Alhaji Yahaya added, saying, "One of these important roads to address traffic congestion in the state, is Asa-Dam-Egbejila-Airport Road. It is 7.5 kilometres road and work is still ongoing there. Drainage and construction of the bridge are still on. The objective is to reduce traffic congestion around Gari-Alimi roundabout and airport axis."

Said he: "Some of the ongoing road projects in the State include; the Aduralere-Isalekoko-Ojagboro-Sanu Sheu Road, Henry George-Agbo-Oba road, Henry George-Unilorin mini campus road, Ita-Alamu village road, Oloro Palace Road, Share-Oke Ode (lot 1), Share-Oke ode (lot 2), Kishi-Kaiama Road, Egbejila Road, Ilorin, Arobadi Magida Road in Moro Local Government, Baboko Market Road, Ilesha Baruba-Gwanara road, Rore-Ipetu Road, construction of three span bridge in Ilala, Ifelodun Local Government, Oniju street, Babanloma in Ifelodun Local Government and Anilelerin Road, Offa.

"There is also channelization network at Ita-Alamu, Ilorin South local government area of the state. The area has over the years, been threatened by erosion. Government has thought it wise to channelize the area for the control of election in that axis so that it will not affect the rail lines there. "As soon as that is done we will be able to focus on the road network within the vicinity. Rehabilitation is also ongoing on the Gaa-Akanbi road network.

"We have other interventions that are ongoing in terms of small roads and I want to assure that government is desirous to pay serious attention to infrastructural development in the state in order to promote economic development. Most importantly too we have other roads lined up for rehabilitation in the state and any moment from now Governor Ahmed will launch their construction.

"I want to seize this opportunity to inform you that when these facilities are completed they will improve the image of the state in terms of infrastructural development. It will also ease human and vehicular traffic.

"We are equally proposing to dualise Kulende-University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH)-Oke-Ose road. About two years ago, the governor expanded the road from Kulende to Oyun bridge axis to address the suffering of our people who ply that road. The state also plans to construct fly-over bridge from Gari-Alimi end to airport road area.

"Most importantly, these projects require funds. I want to appeal to the Nigerian public especially Kwarans to also exhibit their civil responsibility through payment of taxes so that government will have funds execute these laudable programmes."

But a factional chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo put a lie on the state government's achievements. Oyedepo said: "I want to say this, not because am in the opposition, I will validate whatever I tell you with objective analysis. I don’t believe the government is doing well at all. If the governor and his predecessor have been in government for about 13 years (2003 till now) and the state is as it is, what other evidence do you need to show the whole world that these people are not doing well?