Kwara Seeks Refund For Road Maintenance

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, has urged the Federal Government to reimburse the Kwara State the balance of N12 billion it spent on the maintenance of federal roads in the last nine years.

Ahmed made the call in Erin-Ile, Oyun Local Government Area last  Monday, during the 15th Erin-Ile Day celebration and added that the Federal Government should repair all federal roads in the state.

“We have recently commenced an intervention on Ajasse-Ipo-Erin-Ile road to make it more motorable while continuously seeking intervention by the Federal Government under whose purview the road is supposed to be rehabilitated and maintained,” he said.

Ahmed called on communities in the state to maintain good neighbourliness and shun all forms of rancour, particularly in land related matters.

“As our recent history as a nation has demonstrated, violence is not only frequently futile but also inflicts considerable damage on the affected communities,” he added.

The governor emphasised that his administration would continue to implement people-friendly programmes.

He said this would enhance the economic and social well-being of the people under its Shared Prosperity Programme.

He said that his administration appreciated the importance of good roads to the economic wellbeing of the people.

The governor said this was what informed the implementation of the first phase of his administration’s 800km rural and urban road development programme.

He said more roads would be constructed in the coming years to open up the state for economic development.

Ahmed also said that communities must partner with government at all levels for infrastructure development through an inclusive platform that would see communities partaking in the provision and maintenance of projects.

He said his administration had enhanced the economic wellbeing of the people through the provision of a N250 million micro credit scheme for small businesses.

Ahmed said his government had created more than 2,000 jobs for youths and implemented massive infrastructure development, namely roads, education, electricity, water supply, hospitals and security.

He commended Offa and Erin-Ile communities for choosing the path of peaceful co-existence.

The governor recalled that the traditional rulers of both communities recently restated their commitment to peace at a meeting with the state government.

The Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba AbdulGaniyu Ajibola Ibrahim Olusookun pleaded with the sons and daughters of the town to work assiduously toward ensuring that peace prevailed among them.

He said this would be possible for development to reach the area.