Date: 2019-09-19

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said local communities will have the option of nominating trusted indigenous contractors to fix their schools and hospitals, while the government will fund the projects.

He said the contractors would be picked only after going through the government's procurement processes, as spelt out under the law.

AbdulRazaq said the government has retooled the 2019 budget to focus on rebuilding basic infrastructure such as township roads, schools, hospitals and toilets, to tackle the menace of open defecation.

"For each community where we want to rebuild the schools or hospitals, we want to use the local contractors from those communities, so that we have trickle down effects and regenerate the economy by investing in the economy," AbdulRazaq said in Kaiama town while touring public facilities.

He visited communities such as Gwaria, a major hub for yam flour production in Nigeria, Junga Aboki and Kaiama town — all in Kaiama Local Government.

"When we got there, we realised that there are big issues with our roads, hospitals and schools. They are practically down, and I am here to make sure I understand in full the problems with all the hospitals and schools," the governor said.

He added: "They all have peculiar problems. We have seen the different challenges in different hospitals and schools and we are going to make sure the right people are used in order to reposition the hospitals and schools.

AbdulRasaq said while his campaign thrust of development and change remained valid, he is constantly rejigging the campaign promises to reflect the realities of Kwara he now sees, especially because basic infrastructures for education and health are almost non-existent and must first be put in place before other things.

The Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Umar Shehu Mu'azu, told the governor that the engineer had been sabotaging the project despite getting money from the government and the community."

He urged AbdulRazaq to prioritise roads in the agrarian axis, especially Kishi Kaiama road and hailed him for approving the construction of the Kaiama township road