Date: 2017-09-08

Kwara State government has relaxed a curfew on Odo Owa and Iloffa communities in Oke Ero Local Government.

The government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the communities following a clash in July. The crisis was alleged to have claimed four lives. The fracas was reportedly caused by a disagreement over who had a right to first sell yams harvested from the farms of traditional rulers.

Secretary to State Government (SSG) Alhaji Isiaka Gold said in a statement that the curfew "will operate between 10 p.m. and 6a.m. till further notice." He urged residents to be obedient and peaceful.

The SSG said the government was studying the report of the judicial commission of enquiry into the crisis.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said yesterday the $60million World Bank loan was a Federal Government initiative called Rural Access and Mobility Project.

Speaking while receiving traditional rulers from Kwara South led by Oloffa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, who paid him Sallah homage at the Government House, Ilorin, Ahmed said the project was in partnership with the World Bank and French Development Agency.

He said the funds would be made available to state governments willing to partner the Federal Government to rehabilitate rural roads, especially those linking up with commercial environments.

The governor said: "The fund is expected to contribute 95 per cent of the projects, while the states will contribute five per cent counterpart funding to access the loan. The money will be used for rural roads."

He said Kwara was one of the states to enjoy the second tranche of the soft loan, to build roads in rural areas, adding that Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu and Kaduna states enjoyed the first tranche.

Oba Gbadamosi Esuwoye II thanked the governor for the projects in Kwara South. He promised that monarchs would support him and pray for the success of his administration.C