Date: 2017-05-25

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Dr. Muideen Akorede, has chided those who are comparing Kwara State with Lagos and Rivers states in terms of infrastructural development.

Speaking on Royal FM during a live discussion programme yesterday, Akorede noted that there was no basis for comparison whatsoever as Lagos and Rivers states have access to more resources from the federation account and internally generated revenue (IGR) than Kwara.

He stressed that would be a height of ridicule to compare the state with other state that gets fat allocation from federal allocation.

Responding to the criticism, Akorede said Lagos for instance generates up to N30bn monthly as IGR compared to Kwara's N1.4bn even as he noted that the monthly allocation of Lagos state from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) is around N20bn unlike Kwara which receives about N4bn.

Recent report released by FAAC gives a breakdown of what the 36 states received from the federation account in the first quarter of 2017 (January to March), showing Kwara receiving N6.9bn as against Lagos' N19.03bn

Akorede said, "It is quite ridiculous to begin to compare Kwara state with a state like Lagos state that generates N30bn in IGR, that has thousands of companies, two Sea Ports, two Airports and so on. There is really no basis for comparison.

"Or do you want to compare Kwara with a state like Rivers state or Akwa Ibom for instance that collects more money in terms of federal allocation as oil producing states".

Akorede said the state used to boast of many industries in the past like the Bacita Sugar company, Okin Biscuit, among others which he said were killed by lack of stable electricity supply and government's import policy which is not favourable to local manufacturers.

Notwithstanding the lean resources at its disposal, he said the previous governments in the state have been able to lay foundation for the development of the state.

He said the administration of Governor Ahmed had taken up by ensuring the completion of projects inherited from the previous administration.

The governor's spokesman said the current developmental plan being adopted in the state was designed by Ahmed when he served as Commissioner for Planning under Governor Bukola Saraki, saying what he had done was to build on the master plan when he became governor.

"As I am talking to you, we have a development plan for the next eight years in terms of projects to be implemented and the funding for those projects", he said.

He said the 50 years existence of Kwara State deserves to be celebrated given that the state had remained united despite the diversity of cultures and tribes. Unlike many states that are embroiled in insurgency and other internecine skirmishes, he said the state has over the years enjoyed peace, harmony and crisis-free co-existence.

"This really deserves to be celebrated because many states are not enjoying the kind of peace and harmony we are enjoying at the moment", he said.

He highlighted some of the achievements of Governor Ahmed to include the rehabilitation of four General Hospitals in Offa, Omu Aran, Ilorin and Kaiama; the International Vocational Centre in Ajasse Ipo which would train middle level technical manpower in all facets of life, the ongoing construction of new campuses of Kwara State University, among others.