Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has approved extensive urban renewal campaign and opening up of the agrarian Kwara hinterlands.
This is just as the state executive council approved several road construction projects in different parts of Kwara— a few days after the government rolled out 84.7km rural road projects.
At its meeting on Wednesday evening, the council approved a contract for the construction of the Phase I of the road to the Owu Fall, the highest waterfall in West Africa measuring 120m above water level and cascading 330 feet down an escarpment, a major boost for tourism in not just the state but in Nigeria and West Africa subregion.
The contract, covering 11 kilometres in this phase, was awarded to Messrs FIK Contracting and Engineering Ltd at N3,998,838,427.50 for a completion period of 18 months.
Placed alongside the government’s investment in tourism and conferencing facilities, the project offers a glimpse into how Kwara plans to become a major hub for recreation, tourism, and entertainment.
The cabinet also approved rehabilitation works on the 20km-long Arandun Township Roundabout-Esie-Oro Township Road to Obtuse Tec Engineering and Construction Ltd at N3,821,594,765.63 for a completion period of 10 months, further opening up the Kwara hinterlands for socioeconomic growth.
The council also approved the award of extensive works on the Ajase Ipo-Oke Iya road in Irepodun, spanning 12 kilometres, to Messrs Construction Products Nigeria Ltd at N2,256,879,187.50 for a period of eight months.
The council had also approved construction of Osin-Laduba Road, which connects Ilorin West to Asa local government area in the central senatorial district.
The cabinet also approved the construction of Oke Ogun community-Awolowo road in Ilorin South local government area, further easing travel time within the capital city.
The council also approved the construction of Aboto Oja-Alata Road in Asa, rehabilitation of Omu-Aran Oko Road in Irepodun, and completion of the Idera-Alabe section of the long-spanning Ile District road that had begun from Owode Ofaro, opening up the areas for improved commercial activities and boosting security in the Ifelodun axis of the state.
Chaired by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the council approved the projects following presentations by the Commissioner for Works and Transport Engr. AbdulQuawiy Olododo who also laid bare the procurement process that the Ministry had adhered to.
Rehabilitation works are meanwhile underway on the Ahmadu Bello Way, which connects the entire city centre to different government ministries, major economic facilities, state police command, state headquarters of the department of state security, Government House, and many other important institutions in the state.
Olododo told the council that timely rehabilitation of the road is important to catch up with its approaching good-by date as alligator cracks and minor potholes are beginning to emerge in parts of the artery road.
The council also authorised some rehabilitation and upgrade works on the Ilorin International Conference Centre (IICC) Roundabout-Sulu Gambari-Post Office Road, revving up the urban renewal efforts of the administration.
The council had earlier awarded consultancy work for feasibility studies and development of technical blueprint for the implementation of the 18,000 hectare-Ilorin Smart City to Messrs Arctual Concepts Limited at the cost of N1.4bn.
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