Date: 2012-12-21

On December 19, 2011, Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed presented his government's budget estimates to lawmakers in the state. He told them he wanted to spend N11.5 billion on the construction and rehabilitation of roads in various communities of the state. That amount was the highest in terms of sectoral allocation under the budget and the decision drew commendation from all and sundry.

Apart from road issues, the governor also made a pledge on electrification and power projects. He said his administration would work to ensure improved power supply in the state in the 2012 Financial Year. According to the governor efforts would be geared towards the completion of all on-going power projects in the state and commencement of other key priority power projects.

"Communities that are yet to be connected to the national grid would be considered under the 2012 electrification project", he told the lawmakers, adding: "Similarly, we will upgrade injection sub-stations and continue the provision of traffic and street light in Ilorin metropolis and Local Government Headquarters. A sum of One billion, eight hundred million Naira has been earmarked for this sector."

Explaining why the biggest chunk of the budget was devoted to the road sector, Ahmed said Kwara deserves to have many roads that can enable envisaged development adding that roads as it were make lives easier for the citizenry. The governor acknowledged that the people of the state have high aspirations of his administration. "These aspirations have been shaped by deep social and economic problems that confront our country but also by the laudable programs in our party's manifesto", he said.

He said further: "The Transport sub - sector will receive the required boost in the coming 2012 Financial Year. This is in line with the policy thrust of this administration to sustain the provision and maintenance of good motorable roads and reduce traffic congestion in the state. To this end, the completion of all on-going road projects embarked upon by the immediate past administration would be pursued with greater zeal in 2012.

"Pursuant to this, a sum of N3.2 billion has been provided for this sector in the coming fiscal year. Similarly, attention would be paid to the construction and rehabilitation of new state and rural roads across the length and breadth of the state. To this end, a total sum of N6.6 billion will be e committed to this project with a share of N4.6 billion and N2 billion for state and rural roads respectively in 2012.

"The Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) will be strengthened to maintain our roads throughout the State and ensure that they are motorable all year round. To facilitate its work, a sum of N360 million Naira has been provided. Similarly, the Kwara Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) will be enhanced in the 2012 fiscal year.

"This is to strengthen our hold on the roads, create orderliness and ensure free flow of traffic. Toward this end, a sum of N100 million has been earmarked for the purchase of heavy and light towing trucks. Besides, the State Government intends to construct Bus depots and Lay-bys in the coming year to ensure orderly bus mass transit services in the state capital."

Almost a year down the line, the government said it is still keeping with the focus even though there had been daunting challenges. Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muideen Akorede gave a long list of roads that have been touched, or are being currently touched under the budget. Some of them were started in the preceding year while some are brand new.

The list include the following: Construction of Afon-Eiyekorin (11.5km), Asa Dam (Dangote) -Ajase Ipo Rd, Junction (4.4km), Patigi-Rogun - Kpada Rd. (43.5km), Erin-Ile - Ilemona Rd. (6.6km), Extension of Taoheed Sec. School Road (8.78km), Extension of LubconWara Express Rd. (8.78km), Construction of Kwara Unity Road (Offa/Erinle) (9.5km), Idofian-Fufu-Lajiki Rd. (14.8km), Akerebiata -Zango Rd. (4.7km, Construction Henry George Agbo-Oba Road, and Rehabilitation Of Alabi-Owo Rd, Ilorin (300m).

Others include Ganmo-Afon Rd (17km), Kola Belgore Rd, G.R.A Ilorin (450m), Olorunshogo Rd. Off Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin (1.60km), Omu-Aran Township - Land Mark University Rd. (2.40km), Lafiaji Township Rd. (1.55km), Eruku-Koro Rd (9.50), Oko-Idofin-Igbana-Odo Ashe Rd (17km), Rehabilitation of Post office - ITC Junction, Ilorin (3.75km), Rehabilitation of Sulu Gambari Rd (500m), Construction of Isanlu-Isin-Ijara Isin Rd (7.00km), Eruku Township Rd. (2.5km), Offa-Irra Road 16.9km), Chikanda-Kosubosu (Section I) and Eyenkorin-Ballah-Alapa (36km).

Others still include Apron and Taxi-way for Cargo Terminal, Construction of Baba-Daudu-Varsity Avenue, Road, Pakata - Sooto - Anifowoshe market road, Kulende to Oyun Bridge Road (2km), Collapsed Oko Bridge(3/11.33m span), Rehabilitation of CBN Quarters Road (1.2km), Mubo Street (1km), Banquet Hall Car Park Extension, Renovation/Renewal of Roundabout in Ilorin Metropolis, Rehabilitation of Obaro Crescent Road, G.R.A (700m). Rehabilitation of Ejiba Street Off Stadium Road (1.4km), Culvert and concrete Drain in AbiriAremu area and maintenance of Awolowo -Bubu - Oke - Odo road, Dualization of Ola-Olu Offa - Garage Road, Awolowo - Bubu - Oke Odo Phase II, Ohan Bridge on Alapa Igbeti Road, and Rehabilitation Of Stadium Road.

The government has also rehabilitated Henry George Round about-Mini Campus-Sawmill Road, the Kwara State university, Malete Ilorin South Bye-Pass Rd (75 0m),Oro- Oro-Ijomu Road (36km), Construction of Ayedun-Itale Road (3.2km), as well as Share Township Road.

He said further: ".
"You can also feel our presence on Igosun - Awere Road (3.5km), Ojoku-Ila Market (7.5km),Ilesha - Gberereru - Babane Road (36km), Gbaradogi Fully Erosion Fatigi (6km), Lafiagi-Chewuru (10km), Patikesan Road (10.7km), Bushewa Road (8km), Owode-Ofaro, Oro-Ago Oke Oyan (7.5),Bolorunduro-Pandoro-Kafenta-Sekongba-Elesinfunfun-Aiyegunle/ Igbonna Road, Obbo-Ile-Orra-Aiyetoro-Ejiu Obbo-Ayegunle Road including two Bridges, Moshe-Banni Road, Ira-Aboto Road, Ndanaku - Yekosa-Ile Gadaworo, Atoda-Odo Oko Road (5.5km), Ajase-SanMora-Igbonnla Road (7 Km), Arandun-Sabo-Owode-Oke-Onigbin and Oke-Oyan-OwaKajola.

"We have also worked on Mandala-Yowere-BudoTuntun (12km) , Ajagusi-FokoOriro-Omidogun-Doroma (10km), Amodu-Asungbolu-Sulu Road (6km), Aduralere-Oja Gboro With Drainage (1.5km), Amodu-Asungbolu-Sulu Road (6km), Aduralere-Oja Gboro With Drainage (1.5km), Oke Oyi-Lajiki (10km), Marafa Oja-Dalemo (5km), Oke Onigbin-Igbesi-Edidi Road (7km) , Edidi-Alla Road (6.2km), Oke Oyi-LosaBudo Alfa-Baba Dudi Road (16km), as well as Idiagbon-Isale Station Road (0.6km)."

Meanwhile, as part of its commitment to the wellbeing of road users, the government has also directed its Ministry of Works and Transport to carry out immediate repairs on the Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile federal road which has been in a very deplorable State. The decision was the outcome of a recent executive council meeting that deliberated on various programmes and projects of the state.

According to Akorede the immediate intervention would be in form of filling of potholes on the road while efforts would be intensified to liaise with the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for further and more enduring intervention on the road. He said the State Executive Council directed that machinery should be initiated for further interaction with the federal ministry of works on other federal roads in the State, especially Kaiama-Kishi and Ilorin-Jebba roads that are similarly in deplorable conditions.

These latter roads have also drawn the attention of lawmakers in the state who last week asked the FERMA to urgently rehabilitate the multi billion naira Ilesha-Okuta- Kosubosu road to fast track vehicular movement along the international route passing through the state. The lawmakers also want Governor Ahmed to include the construction of Ilesha-Gwanara-Kenu-Okuta road in the 2013 budget estimate in view of its strategic position to the socio-economic well being of the people of Baruten Local Government Area.

These were part of resolutions reached by the legislators while deliberating on a report over the deplorable condition of the road raised by a member representing Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency, Alhaji Sulyman Idris Sunaboro while raising a matter of general public importance on the floor of the House. The lawmakers noted that the rehabilitation of the road by FERMA had become imperative in view of numerous pot holes now dotting the road while a culvert before Chikanda had collapsed thereby creating difficulties for motorists.

They equally enjoined FERMA to control erosion problem at Subayo village to salvage the road from total collapse. Chairman of the House Committee on energy, works and transport, Mashood Bakare while presenting the report had observed that some section of the road had become muddy, slippery, rocky and gully thereby making passage difficult for motorist.

In the power sector, Akorede said government has also not let down the populace in terms of project initiation and execution. He said: "We have completed Phase One electrification projects in the following 22 communities: Lade, Tsaragi, Ganmo, Kaiama/Roundabout , Kaiama/Gwasar, Ilesha, Ifetedo, Dzwafini , Kamaldeen University Ogidi , Gwanara , Oloro Palace, Oro Township, Irepodun Oke-Odo Oloje Estate, ,Agabiaka I, Agbabiaka II, Kanbi I, Opposite the market, Kanbi II, Jokolu, Aran-Orin I, Irepodun, Arandun Water works, Arandun, Yagbagi, Patigi and Kempepan. We have also completed 116 communities under Phase Two.

This year alone we have added the following communities to the beneficiaries of our intervention in the power sector under various heads. "Procurement and Installation of Transformer at the following locations: Balogun ward, Share Town, Sakama area Share Town, Ifelodun LGA, Oke Ayo, Share Town, Ifelodun LGA, Share Water works, ,Ifelodun LGA. There has also been rehabilitation of L.T net work at the following sites: Ori Oke -Aremo, Ilorin south LGA, IyanaShare,Ifelodun LGA, Kparumagi PATIGI LGA, Gudugi,PATIGI LGA and Gwanara Township, Baruten LGA.

"The government has also undertaken procurement and installation of transformer to the following locations: Laduba Street, Off Ogidi Area, Ilorin South LGA, Rogun Health Clinic, PATIGI LGA, General Hospital Offa,Offa LGA, Elepo Aran, Anifowose Str. Ilorin West LGA, George Innih Road, Share OlojeGarageArea, Kulende Police Barrack, Sango Area, Lafiagi street, Logun Junction, Sooto street Ubandawaki Pakata Area, Zone F Sango Area, GaaTemidire via ApataYakuba, Aremo (Taoheed) Community, Alapere road via ApataYakuba, Fate Central Mosque Area, Ilorin South LGA, Phase III Kulende Area, Behind Kwara T.V via Kwara Poly, Opposite Tipper Garage via Oyun, SalaudeenLatinwo street via our Lady School, Sango Area IL South LGA, Bacita-Shonga junction,Edu LGA, Mandate III Estate, Ilorin West LGA.

"Others include transformer replacement at Youth Farm Centre, Malete MORO LGA, rural Electrification at Amberi Community Irepodun LGA, Falokun Community Irepodun LGA, Araromi Oke-Odo, Oloje, Ilorin South LGA, Batakpan - Tsaragi Edu LGA, Kwara State Television Authority Information Division of M of Information and Communication, Aloko-Iponrin /GSS Iponrin, Idofin-Igbana Community in Oke-Ero LGA, Malete Township, Ijara-Isin, Oko-Olowo Market, Ilorin South, Tanke Oko-Oba as well as Ita Aisha, Ilorin, Ilorin South LGA."