Kwara Govt Embarks on N6bn Light Up Kwara Project to Boost Security

ByBisi Adedayo, Ilorin

In a bid to improving security among the citizenry in the Kwara State, the present administration in the state is embarking on a N6 billion project tagged: “Light Up Kwara”.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Energy, Alhaji Idris Abubakar during a press briefing in Ilorin, the state capital as part of the resolutions of the state Executive Council (SEC) meeting.

The project which is expected to cost about N6 billion, would ensure that all the streets in the State are lit up during the night so that hoodlums and miscreants cannot act under the cover of darkness.

The project, the Commissioner added, is going to be in two phases stating that phase I of the project will cover 78 kilometres of roads within Ilorin metropolis.

While the phase II of the project, according to the Commissioner will go outside the metropolis like Offa in Offa Local Government Area; Omu-Aran in Irepodun local government areas of the State as well  Moro and Edu Local Government Areas and subsequently to every other LGAs in the state.

He  further explained that the project would be financed through a Private Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement over a period of ten years, adding that the private partners will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the project for 10 years before transferring the assets to the state government.

His words: “Repayment will commence when the Kwara state government is sure that all is well, the project is tested, reliable and efficiently serving the purpose”.

Also speaking during the briefing, Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Muhammad Ajeigbe, hinted that council has approved the construction of two campuses of the Kwara state University (KWASU) at Ilesha Baruba in Baruten council and Osi in Ekiti local government area of the state.

The commissioner said a contract sum of N2.8billion was approved for the construction of the two campuses which has been awarded on a private public partnership arrangement bases to be repaid on agreed terms through IFK funding window.

He further disclosed that the state Executive Council approved participation in the N1 billion Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) of the Federal Government project through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).