News Flash!

Stakeholders Express Strong Reservations on Construction
of Shops Along GSS and Reservoir in Ilorin
The Kwara State House of Assembly says, it will not support
any project or Policy that will adversely affect the wellbeing
of the People of the State.
The Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad gave this indication in Ilorin at
the Weekend, while declaring open a Public hearing on
alleged illegal erection of Shops around GSS Ilorin and Water
Reservoir opposite Unilorin staff quarters, GRA Ilorin.
Dr. Ahmad represented by his Deputy, Elder Matthew
Okedare, said the Legislature, which is the mouth piece of
the People, would not support any project or policy that
would distort the master plan of Ilorin Metropolis , but
insisted that such should not be done at the detriment of the
People of the State.
In their various but passionate submissions, the
stakeholders insisted vehemently that the on going shop
projects at GSS and GRA Water Reservoir be demolished, as
the projects according to them, would be injurious to the
inhabitants of Ilorin Metropolis, and destroy the age long
aesthetic value of green areas, planted trees, flowers and
lawns initiated by successive governmentS in the State.
The affected stakeholders which included, the state chapter
of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Nigerian Institute
of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Ilorin Descendants
Progressive Union, the Head of Department of Regional and
Urban Development, University of Ilorin, the Chairman of the
Unilorin chapter of Academic Staff Union of University, Dr U
A Raheem, the old Students of Shiekh Abdulkadir College,
Muri Adi Estate and Valuers and the Petitioners GRA
Residents Association praised the doggedness of the
Legislature, saying that the house had demonstrated
through the Public Hearing that governance is by the People
and for the People.
Other Stakeholders, especially those from the side of the
State government said the Shops may not be injurious, if
adequate measures were put in place, by the relevant
agencies of government to mitigate against identified
disasters, due to the construction of the Shops in the
affected areas.
The government Stakeholders, which included the state
Bureau of Land, the state Town Planning and Development
Authority, Ministries of Justice, Water Resources as well as
Education and Human Capital Development, the Independent
Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria said the
affected areas, prior to the construction of the shops
constituted security threat and expressed confidence that
the shops would among other things ensure security in the
areas, improve the revenue base of the state government,
boost commercial activities in the areas, while proceeds
from proposed shops along Fate road would be used to
provide infrastructure in the School to enhance effective
teaching and learning.
Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Land, Housing
and Urban Development, Hon. Adamu Usman had explained
that the public hearing was held to seek stakeholders' views
on the construction of Shops in the affected areas and
assured that their views would be collated and reflected in
the Committee's report to guide the entire House in
proffering appropriate, realistic and enduring solutions to the
problem.