Despite the fuel scarcity that hit many states of the federation ahead of yesterday inauguration,  thousands of  Kwara State residents yesterday stormed Ilorin Metropolitan Square, Ilorin, venue of the swearing-in ceremony of the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and his deputy, Mr. Peter Kisra for second term in office.
As early as 7.a.m on Friday,  residents who came from all the 16 local government councils in the state in  chartered  buses, arrived the venue of the event  to witness the swearing-in of governor Ahmed and his deputy, Mr. Kisra.
Though, the event was a low -keyed one, people of the state irrespective of their political differences came in large numbers to be part of the historical event.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Durosinlohun Kawu  first performed an oath of office of second term for deputy governor, Mr. Kisra and later crowned it with the oath of office of the state governor, Alhaji Ahmed.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, the state governor, Alhaji  Ahmed  said his main priority in office still remained people’s welfare .
  “In the coming months, we will begin the process of decoupling our economy from a reliance on the unstable global oil market and the associated fluctuations in federal allocation”.
“In achieving this, we will build more schools, roads, hospitals, power projects and structures needed to get more of our youths working, businesses growing, food on more tables and greater prosperity for everyone who calls Kwara State home.
“This administration will upscale development and boost entrepreneurship to get a greater number of our youths working. Starting from today, we will begin the work of transforming our state to the North Central’s Economic hub.
“We will create a new frontier of prosperity where everyone has the opportunity to better their lives subject only to their willingness to apply themselves”.
“To begin with, education is the pivot of development and the most tested route to economic empowerment. In line with this, we intend to enhance functional education and expand access to formal education.

“We will overhaul an initial 120 secondary schools across the state by building 1,274 new classrooms and rehabilitating 2,000 existing classrooms.

“Additionally, we will open new campuses for the Kwara State University, KWASU in Ilesha-Baruba with the establishment of the College of Agricultural Science and another one in Osi where we will locate the new College of Architectural and Environmental Studies”, he stated.

The governor also stated, “In keeping with our determination to bring portable water within the reach of all residents, we will expand the Malete and Okuta Waterworks and begin work on Oyun Water Works to meet the needs of an estimated 180, 470 people in seven communities.

“Also, the final phase of the Ilorin Metropolis Water Reticulation and Distribution Network will be completed to bring piped-water to every connected home in Ilorin and environs.

He noted that, “Recognising that health is a key requisite for human capital development, this administration will expand our health system with the establishment of two primary health care centers, four comprehensive health centers, and remodelling of an extra five general hospitals across the three senatorial districts.

“As you are aware, urban electrification not only enriches the aesthetics of our cities, it also enhances the security in our neighborhoods. We will therefore upscale the existing urban electrification programme with solar streetlights along major access roads in Offa, Omu-Aran, Lafiagi, Patigi, Kaiama, and Share-Tsaragi.

“We will restore existing public-powered streetlights across the Ilorin Metropolis. Still in the power sector, we will complement existing investment strategies with the establishment of a 100-megawatt Independent Power Plant in Kwara North.

“Apart from industrial clusters, the 100 megawatts will also power essential services such as hospitals, government offices, and educational institutions”..

Ahmed added, “Many of you must wonder how we intend to fund these projects and programmes in view of the sustained reduction in allocation to states. The answer is simple.  “In the coming months, we will begin the process of decoupling our economy from a reliance on the unstable global oil market and the associated fluctuations in federal allocation.

“We will achieve this admittedly challenging task by significantly improving internally generated revenue. We will also plug leakages and reduce the cost of governance to boost our capacity to achieve these objectives.

“We must all be prepared to tighten our belts, to make sacrifices, and moderate our expectations of government”.

He therefore promised the people of the state not to let them down in the quest to ensure the delivery of more  socio economic development programmes to the doorsteps of Kwarans so as to create a new platform for economic prosperity  in the state.