by Iyanda Ismael and Alatise Taofeeq

Government policies all over the world are supposed to bring succour and relief to its citizenry. But when these same policies become a source of discomfort to the populace, then there is a problem in the polity. It is against this background that our position is informed, regarding some uncompleted road projects in Kwara state, particularly within the state capital, Ilorin.

For some time now, residents of Tanke-Oke Odo, Ilorin in Kwara State, including students of University of Ilorin, have been enduring a worrisome situation, no thanks to the uncompleted road project embarked upon by the state government in the said area. Embarking on road project is a laudable decision, but abandoning it half-way, is uncalled for. This is not an attempt to denigrate the leadership of the State, but an effort to air the grievances' of residents.We would like to state for the umpteenth time and without any fear of contradiction that these road projects have brought discomfort and untold hardship to many residents, leading to a monumental and unfortunate increase in the number of asthmatic patients as a result of dusts and other harmful substances flying the air from these "road projects".

The situation is very pathetic that residents are now considering relocating elsewhere after making fruitless appeal to the appropriate authority. A resident, who is a student of University of Ilorin, simply identified as Shakiru queried, "why would a government embarked on a road project, only to abandon it mid-way?" "Do people", he added, "need to carry placards, chanting anti-government songs before the government understands their plight? "We believe that it is not the intention of the State government to send residents to their early graves in the name of road projects, If we are right, then we implore the State government to intensify efforts at ensuring the timely completion of these road projects, without any further delay. After all, what is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.

Iyanda Ismael and Alatise Taofeeq, members of Due Process Group, University of Ilorin.