Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday flagged off the construction of 15.150km Ojoku-Ilemona road in Oyun local government area of the state.
The governor said the project formed part of his efforts at opening up communities for economic growth and pleasurable travel experience in the state.
He said his administration has delivered more than 100kms of road in Kwara South alone — aside from other projects in health, education, water, and social protection sectors.
In addition to that, he said the administration is either constructing or about to award road projects spanning some 109kms in the region, including RAAMP projects.
AbdulRazaq requested residents to continue to support the administration and take ownership of public infrastructure so that they could last longer.
The flag-off coincided with the inspection of the Eiyenkorin-Afon-Ojoku-Offa road by the governor, minister of Works, David Umahi, and a delegation of the BUA Conglomerate led by its group executive director, Alh Kabir Rabiu — the contractor of the 42.6km road that links Kwara central to south and Osun State within 30 minutes.
The governor and Umahi commended the quality of the road, with the latter saying the road should last between 50 and 100 years.
AbdulRazaq reminded the minister of the dualisation of the Ilorin-Lokoja road, saying the project is dear to the people of the state.
The governor also received cheery news from the minister’s delegation that the federal government has approved a flyover at Oko- Olowo,Ilorin, potentially ending years of deadly accident in the busy corridor.
AbdulRazaq also reminded the minister of the Share-Patigi road as well as the Moro bridge — two projects he said are also very dear to him and to the people of the state.
The governor said: “We are glad to have this road. This is part of what you call the dividends of democracy, dividends of the renewed hope agenda.
“We thank Mr. President for his commitment, for his policies. His policies are already yielding results. This is part of the results of the economic policy that he implemented. Now, the new tax policies will kick in early next year, and we’ll see a lot of movement in that direction, too. Inflation is going down. The exchange rate is firm, stable, and also going down. We see progress.
“This road opens up a lot of communities, agrarian communities, and movement of goods and services. In fact, traffic has settled on this road, even though it’s just about 45% complete. There’s huge traffic already. On our part, we just flagged off the construction of a new road this morning, a 15-kilometer road to feed into other communities and also lead into Osun State. So, we’re glad you’re here to inspect this project, and we’re glad with the work BUA is doing on this road and also on the Bode-Saadu-Kaiama-Kosubosu road which you’re going to see now.
“We spoke earlier about the issue of Moro Bridge, Share – Patigi Road, and also the prospect of looking at 2026 budget for the dualization of Ilorin – Lokoja road. You recall that the governor of Kogi State and I visited you in your office to look into that project. It’s an ongoing thing. We will continue to push to see how we can have that in the 2026 budget. So, as you move around the state, we welcome you to Kwara and the hospitality of Kwara. But we’re truly happy with this road, and we must commend you for the energy you’re taking to do this thing.
“This road has been there since the 60s. It was much more of a footpath. It’s really a footpath. So, it’s now a green road, basically. Greenfield Road. BUA just bulldozed everything and created a new road here.
“All these areas will open up to agriculture. Investors are already coming in. You can see down the road, Olam is about to commission a $25 million soybean processing plant just down the road there. So, the other companies have started to come in. And this road is a catalyst for development.”
The minister of Works, David Umahi, who commended the governor’s consistent support for President Tinubu and his leadership of the NGF, said he would look at the projects in the coming fiscal year.
He said the road was awarded on 22nd May, 2023 and started in September 2023, commending the commitment of the President to fund the project through the tax credit scheme.
He lauded the quality of the concrete road, which he said would last between 50 and 100 years.
“We are similarly proud of what Your Excellency is doing in the state without much noise. We thank your leadership and your support for President Tinubu. I assure you that we will do what you want. We will work around it to support you,” he said.
He also said the ministry will be in Kwara in November for the Kwara stretch of the Sokoto-Badagry super highway.
Earlier, the Kwara State commissioner for Works, Engr. Abdulquawiy Olododo, had said Ojoku –Ilemona road is now a corridor of growth that seeks to transform the lives and livelihoods of the people.
“For decades, our people in this axis have been constrained by poor road conditions, affecting mobility, trade, healthcare access, education, and agricultural distribution which the present administration has continued to fix,” he said.
He assured that the project will be undertaken with the highest standards of quality.
