Biola Azeez writes on the efforts of the Kwara State government to address the challenges of infrastructural development in the state, as part of its project of continuity politics.

THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Kwara State prides itself on being a government of continuity. Thus, one of the political slogans of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is, 'legacy continues.' The governor, who explained that continuity in governance was responsible for the completion of some projects and the progress made on many others by his administration in the last one year, added that the measure had also discouraged abandoned projects.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin on activities of the Governor Ahmed-led administration in the last one year, the state commissioners and the governor's media aide said the present government had also succeeded in building upon the programmes and projects of the immediate past administration of Senator Bukola Saraki to avoid abandoning projects due to the change in government, as witnessed in some states of the federation.

The state commissioners and other aides of the governor, who took turns to reel out the development activities in their various ministries, said the development had been spread to all parts of the state. The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr Amuda Kannike, who said the state government would continue to provide all the necessary infrastructural facilities to ensure economic prosperity for the people of the state, stated further that his ministry would not hesitate to intervene in FG road projects for the socio-economic development of the state and its people.

He said as part of its programme of strategic infrastructure development, the Kwara State government had constructed over 600 kilometers of roads across the three senatorial districts of the state in a deliberate effort to open up the state for agricultural and economic development. Alhaji Kannike said the roads, aimed at complementing government's strategic priorities and enhancing people's welfare, include over 350 kilometres of feeder and access roads which are specifically constructed to create a value chain for mechanised agricultural practices designed to drive the economy of the state.

The commissioner said most of the roads had been completed while others were at various stages of completion, adding that some of them would be commissioned by Governor Ahmed as part of activities marking his first year anniversary in office. He also noted that most of the road projects embarked upon by the last administration in the state had been completed, adding that the expansion work on Sango-Oyun bridge axis of Old Jebba road, a federal road, was completed at a cost of N200 million. This, he said, was to reduce traffic congestion on the road.

Other federal roads in the state, according to the commissioner, have received intervention from the state government because of its desire to make life more comfortable for residents of the state. Alhaji Kannike said the Kwara State Traffic Management Agency had been provided with equipment and other facilities for effective monitoring of traffic while six fire service trucks of the state fire services were renovated for effective service delivery. He said most of the old projects like the Sulu-Gambari road, Ijomu-Oro road, Afon-Eyenkorin road, Asa dam/Dangote road, among others had already reached 98 per cent completion and would soon be commissioned.

The governor's aide also said that the Zango-Oyun bridge road had also been completed, adding that government would intervene in rural roads to support farmers and agricultural activities, especially in the movement of their farm produce to markets. He said that government had included road maintenance as part of the projects designed to ensure absence of pot holes that could damage roads. On fire fighting services, Dr Kannike said government had renovated six fire trucks to make them functional while outlets had also been opened in Offa to save time in response to fire incidents.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Idris Garba Abubakar, in his own presentation, said water works had been renovated and rehabilitated to ensure adequate provision of potable water, adding that motorised boreholes were also provided in most parts of the state. The commissioner, in his ministry's score card, said about 14 water works were rehabilitated by the state government in the last one year. According to him, “38 water works were connected to the National Grid while the state government purchased water chemicals worth N200million for the treatment of water in the state”.The commissioner added that about one billion naira had been earmarked for the ongoing water reticulation project which is at 85 per cent completion stage.

His counterpart in the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji R. A Atolagbe, said more than 200 classrooms were renovated in public primary and secondary schools, adding that teachers were trained to ensure quality education while N131 million was spent to pay bursary to students in the last one year.

Also, the state government is to obtain N750 million loan from the Bank of Industry (BoI) to promote and encourage small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the state. The state's commissioner for commerce and co-operatives, Alhaji Saka Onimago, said Governor Ahmed had given his ministry the approval to obtain the loan. Onimago further disclosed that the governor had released N250 million for disbursement to co-operative societies in the state as revolving loans. He said that 147 co-operative societies had so far benefited from the loan scheme while 10 micro-finance banks were accredited for the loan disbursement to ensure probity and transparency.

On his part, the Special Assistant on Youth Employment, Alhaji Saka Babatunde, said the government had employed 2, 000 youths under its bridge empowerment scheme (KWABES). He said 1, 000 of the youths would be given full employment in 10 days time.

Babatunde noted that the fact that over 42, 000 youths had registered with KWABES underscored the relevance of the scheme.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Baba Kpan, said the government had entered into partnership with some foreign expatriates to further boost commercial agriculture and provide job opportunities for the people of the state. He announced plans by the government to develop six grazing reserves in all the three senatorial zones of the state to minimise the incessant clashes between the herdsmen and farmers in the state.