KWSG Engages Affected Communities Ahead Of Ilorin Smart City Project Groundbreaking

The Kwara State Government has continued to engage affected communities, in marathon meetings with different stakeholders in Ilorin South and Ilorin East Local Government Areas for the acquisition of 20,065-hectare of land, for the project.

The Executive Chairman Kwara State Geographic Information System (KW-GIS, Esv Abdulkareem Babatunde Sulyman disclosed this of recent, when he led government team to Akanbi Wards I & II where they met community Leaders, to seek their supports on the massive developmental project.

The Chairman, who was represented by the Head of Acquisition Unit of the Agency, Mallam Nuhu Yusuf, further affirmed that, “Government will attend to all legitimate claims by the people of the affected areas. The plan is not to displace people from their ancestral lands, as rumored in some quarters, but will rather accommodate everyone within the larger plan of the project.”

ESV Sulyman said the Agency had previously held various meetings with other stakeholders, particularly the Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, who expressed his royal supports for the project, aimed at further developing the State Capital, on sustainable basis.

According to him; “relevant stakeholders are currently being engaged in dialogue across board, asking anyone with legitimate claims to forward such to the Agency for prompt action, adding that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is only concerned about sustainable development of the state, in the interest of all and for the benefit of the entire people of Kwara State.

“For instance, the Smart City would accommodate Modern Schools, Hospitals, Markets, Police posts, Fire Services, Stadia, residential buildings and other social amenities. Most of these will be executed by the state through Public Private Partnership,” Sulyman confirmed.

Stressing further, he also affirmed that; “The project would accommodate 1000 units Federal Government Renewed Hope Housing Estate, as well as industrial developments and a host of other infrastructure.

According to Sulyman, another meri there in, is the employment opportunities and provision of infrastructural facilities for the inhabitants of the areas, Kwara State and Nigeria at large.

In view of the above, the Executive Chairman of the Agency therefore solicited the support and cooperation of the Daudu in sensitizing the people of his community and environs, for the success of the proposed laudable project.

Earlier, the Daudu of Fufu, the Headquarters of Ilorin South Local Government, Alhaji Mohammed Muazu Alege said, the idea of developing the Ilorin Smart City in the area, is a welcomed development, adding that, it would bring tremendous progress, to his immediate environment and the entire State of Harmony – Kwaran, as a whole.

Alhaji Alege thereafter prayed for the successful tenure of office for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration, assuring the visiting team of spreading the good tidings to the people at the community level, by canvassing for their maximum support, to enable the project succeed.