Date: 2012-03-23

Cheques worth N288,751,362.00 have been presented to contractors that will construct a new palace for the Emir of Kaiama in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. It was gathered that the Kaiama community, established long before the nation's independence, had not had a befitting palace worthy of the reputation of the area.

Speaking during the presentation of the cheques, Chairman of the council area, Alhaji Abubakar Sidiq Ahmad, said part of the money would also be used to prosecute seven other projects of human needs for the overall development of the area.

Alhaji Ahmad, who said the presentation ceremony was epoch in the history of the community, added that the projects were meant to satisfy the yearning and aspiration of the people, stressing that provision of infrastructure aimed at enhancing standard of life of the people cannot be compromised.

"During our campaigns, we promised to extend the dividends of democracy to the door steps of everybody in the area. Today, I wish to humbly present cheques to various contractors for immediate commencement of work on development projects, totalling N288,751,362.00," he said.

He said other projects included extension of electricity to some parts of Kaiama township at about N14,326,000.00; construction of maternity centre at Kaiama township amounting to N7,600,000.00; and reconstruction of Degeji/Gbajibo road at a cost of N63,710,000.00.

Others were construction of drainage at Banni at a cost of N47,148,120.00; supply of drugs and hospital equipment to all health facilities in the council N15,993,340.00; construction of Kaiama township drainage at a cost of N23,188,000.00; and construction of two blocks of classrooms each at the local government secondary schools at Gweria, Banni and primary school in Kaiama township, totalling N13,742,322.00.

He, therefore, called on contractors to expedite action and execute the jobs according to specifications, adding that variations would not be condoned.