… Calls for Ilorin circular road, masterplan review to ease population pressure and boost development
#KwaraRising
President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), Chief Olabode Afolayan, has commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s urban renewal strategy, urging other Nigerian governors to adopt the Kwara model for sustainable development.
Speaking to journalists in Ilorin during the Easter season, Afolayan described Governor AbdulRazaq’s approach as a deliberate, gradual upgrade that does not overstretch existing infrastructure while positioning the state for future growth.
“There are quite a lot of things for other states to learn from Kwara, especially the government’s urban renewal strategy. It is being done patiently, and that’s the key to sustainable development,” he said.
Afolayan, a former president of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, noted that Kwara’s infrastructure renewal is responding to the increasing population and urban growth in Ilorin, the state capital. He praised the Governor for taking necessary steps to modernize the city and improve living standards.
He emphasized the catalytic role of urban renewal in attracting investors and residents, adding that it will “make Kwara State an attractive place for people to settle and enjoy the best of life.”
Afolayan proposed a bold expansion of Ilorin’s infrastructure with the inclusion of a circular road network in the city’s master plan. According to him, a road connecting Offa through Ganmo, Sango, Kwara Polytechnic, Sobi, Oloje, Ogundele, and the airport, back to Ganmo, would decongest the city centre and allow seamless travel across key areas without entering Ilorin’s core.
“Such a circular road, though capital intensive, is crucial. It should be designed and embedded in the master plan for future administrations to build upon,” he added.
He also stressed the importance of a robust maintenance system for the new infrastructure projects, noting that “these initiatives cost a lot of money, and it is only right that proper maintenance structures are established to protect the investment.”
The CIPMN President expressed confidence in the vision of Governor AbdulRazaq, describing his leadership as forward-thinking and people-centred. “He has started well, and I wish him well,” Afolayan concluded.
