Kwara Approves N13.3bn For Road Construction

The Kwara State Government says it has approved the award of N13.3 billion contract for the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the state.

The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr. Abubakar Kannike, gave the figure in IIorin, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting, recently.

Kannike said  that the state executive council had identified some road as critical to the economic development of the state and, therefore, decided to make quick intervention.

He explained that the council’s approval was based on its recognition of the importance of an efficient road network to economic and social activities of the people.

The Commissioner pointed out that the move was designed to ease vehiclar and human traffic in the state, particularly in IIorin metropolis.

Kannike said that the state government also approved N300 million for the Kwara State Road maintenance Agency (KWARMA) for road rehabilitation and maintenance, including federal roads.

He said, “Following the success of the state government’s Operation No Potholes, which sought to rid IIorin of road gullies, government decided to release fund to repair bad roads.”

Kannike explained that the agency would receive N25 million monthly for road repairs and construction.

He said, the decision is as a result of the state government resolve to rehabilitate federal roads within the state which have social and economic importance to the people”.

He said that 60 roads spread across the three senatorial district of the state had been identified for rehabilitation with a view to creating palliative measures to promote economic development.

Kannike explained that the Sango-Oyun road leading to the teaching hospitals had been awarded with a view to preventing the daily hold-up along that road.

The Commissioner told newsmen that the state executive council also approved N1.3 billion for the immediate execution of rural electricity projects and the completion of all on-going rural electrification projects.

He added that some of the electricity projects to be executed included street lights and alternative energy generation.