Date: 2016-12-17

Kwara State government on Friday said neither the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed nor the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has any material benefit or personal stake in its forthcoming solar-powered streetlights project, Light Up Kwara (LUK) as claimed by a non-Governmental organisation.

In a statement issued via its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/kwaragovt), the state government said the solar-powered street lights will be implemented by contractors who won bids through a transparent process following advertisements in local and national media. Of the 18 companies that responded, only two were successful, said the government.

The statement stressed, therefore, that neither of the successful bidders are linked to either the Senate President or the state governor in anyway.

The government re-emphasized that the Light Up Kwara Project will be financed 100 per cent by the successful bidders on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Transfer Basis.

Noting that the project was made public because the state Executive Council has approved it as required by law, the government said that the successful bidders will be revealed when all the necessary agreements are signed.

On the claim that the LUK is a duplication of the Senate President's constituency projects which include solar powered street lights, the government stressed the projects are only complementary as different parts of the vast Ilorin metropolis will be served.

The statement stressed that while the State government is investing in different sectors of the state like education, agriculture and massive rehabilitation of roads, it is also its responsibility to ensure security of lives and property.