In a press statement released on May 9th, 2024, by the Honourable Commissioner for Communications Hon. Bola Olukoju announcing the approvals given by the State Executive Council chaired by HE Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for some key marquee projects across Kwara State including:
• Owu Falls Road phase (I) – awarded to Messrs FIK Contracting and Engineering Ltd at N3,998,838,427.50 for a completion period of 18 months.
• Omu Aran Oko Road Rehabilitation
• Arandun-Esie-Oro – the 20km-long Arandun Township Roundabout-Esie-Oro Township Road awarded to Obtuse Tec Engineering and Construction Ltd at N3,821,594,765.63 for a completion period of 10 months.
• Ajase-Ipo-Okeya Ipo – Ajase Ipo-Oke Iya road in Irepodun, spanning 12 kilometres, awarded to Messrs Construction Products Nigeria Ltd at N2,256,879,187.50 for a period of eight months.
• Osin-Laduba,
• Oke Ogun-Awolowo
• Owode Ofaro-Alabe – completion of the Idera-Alabe section of the Ilere District Road, which started from Owode Ofaro.
• Aboto Oja-Alata
• Council approves consultancy contract for Ilorin Smart City feasibility studies and development of technical blueprint for the implementation of the 18,000 hectare-Ilorin Smart City to Messrs Arctual Concepts Limited at the cost of N1.4bn.
All in all, over Ten Billion naira worth of projects spanning many sections of Kwara South was contained in the press release. Let me say again that over Ten Billion naira worth of contracts were awarded to execute projects in Kwara South in one fell swoop.
I could barely contain the happiness that I felt within myself when I read the press release. I fell on my knees and thanked Allah for sending us a Kwara State Governor who prides equity and justice as watch words.
That the current administration inherited huge infrastructure deficits is no longer news. What is not news is that Kwara South Senatorial District, before this administration, had been given the short end of the stick when it comes to infrastructure development.
The growth and development of the state rest on the ease of movement of goods and services to and from the hinterlands and the industrialization of our communities.
HE Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been very strategic in how he deploys the resources of the state, given our lean purse. For those who know him, the governor is determined to diversify and reposition the economy of the state. Therefore, every investment has to have the ability to generate returns in multiple folds. The Governor business like approach to governance, has ensured that infrastructure development identification and execution are based on merits and devoid of sentiments. This allowed for a level playing field for all the Senatorial Districts in the state.
For many of us in Kwara South, the governor prioritizes the growth and development of the people and the region is a breath of fresh air. Many of our educational institutions like College of Education, Oro, School of Nursing Oke Ode, and many others in the Senatorial District continue to enjoy the timely interventions of this administration, from clearing backlogs of salaries to paying for accreditation fees inherited from previous administration.
The proposed industrial hub is going to be another game changer for the region. The governor continues to identify latent potentials in various corners of the state and take bold steps to tap and unleash the potential.
Owu Falls has the potential to be a game changer for the service economy of the state through its tourism potential. Daily visitors’ numbers continue to climb for Esie Museum due to the investment in the Museum Road by HE Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
HE Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq recently gifted 10 million naira to people affected by the Owode market, Offa fire. He was one of the very first on the ground to get first-hand knowledge of the fire at Oro Market. General Hospital Oro’s rehabilitation became a reality under his watch.
The governor continues to build the people through investments in Human Capital Development initiatives and supporting our students at all levels. While the governor has turned virtually every corner of the state into a construction site, the empathy for the people continue to flow through various interventions to help our people cope with the current difficult economic realities of the country. I can go on and on.
All I can really say on behalf of the progress and development loving people of Kwara South is to say Thank you, Thank you Excellency. We are most grateful
Engr. Nurudeen Adeyemi Balogun
ENACT PRINCIPAL