Kwara invests more in road infrastructure, approves N2.9bn for underpass, dualisation

Kwara State government has approved N2.9 billion for the construction of Geri-Alimi Diamond Split Underpass, the first underneath road in the state, considered for construction as part of measures to reduce man-hours lost to traffic congestion.

Before now, the state government has completed roads covering 256.127kms across 16 local government areas of the state.

It also approved the dualisation of Ita-Alamu-Michael Imodu-Afon Junction as well as Kulende – University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) – Oke-Ose road, which according to an official statement, was not only to decongest traffic along the busy axis in Ilorin metropolis, but also attract more investments to the state.

Addressing a press conference after the state executive council meeting held at the Government House in Ilorin, Aro Yahaya, commissioner for works and transport, said the council took the decision as part of measures to reduce traffic hold-up at those areas as well as improve the aesthetic value of the road, and ensure rapid development of the state.

He said the proposed road projects were targeted at 18 months completion, adding that already Egbejila-Asa Dam road and Gerewu phase one were under construction to serve as link roads, and as well as alternative routes during the construction of the project as government was responsive to the plight of Kwarans.

Yahaya, who disclosed that the proposed underpass would be the third of its kind in Nigeria, after Lagos and Abuja, which have similar project at Maryland and Mabushi, however, said the underneath road when completed would accommodate more vehicles than that of Maryland in Lagos and make Kwara State one of the investment destinations.

Also speaking on proposed underpass road project, Bashir Lawal, contractor handling the project and managing director of BAL Engineering Limited, noted that solar power, close circuit television camera and a security post would be made available to provide adequate security in and around the interchange.

Lawal said the project would provide aesthetic and architectural beauty to the areas and ease human as well as vehicular movements, explaining that the state would benefit economically from the set of infrastructural projects being executed by Abdulfatah Ahmed-led administration in Kwara State.

Earlier, Muyideen Akorede, special adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on media, clarified that no legal properties would be demolished by government in respect of the roads construction projects, which means that, government would not incur any expenses outside the approved N2.9 billion for the road projects.

The road projects when completed would not only beautify the state, but also improve on tourism attraction, boost the state’s economy and increase the internally-generated revenue meant for government and ability to catch flight on time, Akorede said.