Date: 2016-09-13

The Kwara State House of Assembly has directed the Secretary of the State Government Alhaji Isiaka Gold to update the House on the extent of the State government's compliance with it's resolutions on the proliferation of illegal filling stations on or before Sixth of next month.

This is part of the resolutions reached by the House after the appearance of the Secretary to the State Government, the Attorney-General of the State and the State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development on the non implementation of the House resolutions on proliferation of illegal Petrol Stations in residential areas in Ilorin Metropolis.

Reading the resolutions of the House after consideration of members' interaction with the invited government officials in an executive session, the Speaker Dr. Ali Ahmad said the Secretary to the State Government is expected to brief the Legislature on the level of compliance of the State Government on the resolutions of the House on the 29 illegal filling stations expected to pay double registration fees and 6 illegal filling stations within residential areas, which the House resolved be demolished in the interest of the helpless innocent citizens living around the affected 6 petrol stations.

The House according to the Speaker directed it's Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the staffers of the State Town Planning and Development Authority and Bureau of Land that were allegedly involved in the issuance of Licence for illegal Petrol Stations in the State with a view to ensuring that culprits were sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others.

The Legislature also urged the State Government to Submit a new bill to overhaul the State Town Planning and Development Authority law with a view to developing a new master plan that would transform urban centres in the State to cynosure of all eyes.

The Speaker who noted with displeasure that the State Government had not taken the resolutions of the House in respect of proliferation of illegal filling stations in Ilorin metropolis serious, said as the conscience and protector of the sovereignty of the people, the House according to him would continue to be responsive to the yearnings of the down trodden who elected them into office.

Responding to questions and observations from members of the House, the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Isiaka Gold who apologised to the House, blamed lack of funding and the current economic recession in the country to non release of funds to the State Town Planning and Development Authority by the State Government to carry out the order of the House in respect of the affected 6 petrol stations slated for demolition and 29 other illegal Petrol Stations recommended for other punitive measures.

But the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the State Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade who shared the view of the Speaker on the need for a new law for the State Town Planning and Development Authority to make it responsive to contemporary challenges said his office was not aware of the resolutions of the House on the illegal filling stations.

Members had while questioning the invited government officials blamed the State Town Planning Development Authority (TPDA) for the pyramid of problems confronting the inhabitants of Ilorin metropolis.