…Another major federal approval strengthens infrastructure drive across the state
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved ₦43 billion for the reconstruction of the Ilorin–Omu Aran–Egbe Road in Kwara State, further consolidating Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s push for large-scale infrastructure renewal across the state.
The approval came barely a month after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, inspected the newly-approved 42.6km Eiyenkorin–Afon–Ojoku–Offa Road, also facilitated by the Governor under the Federal Government’s Tax Credit Scheme.
According to Umahi, who briefed reporters after the FEC meeting, the Ilorin–Omu Aran–Egbe project will begin with the first phase covering 31 kilometres of the entire 207-kilometre stretch. He explained that the reconstruction will be done using full concrete pavement for greater strength and durability.
The road serves as a major link between several communities in Kwara South and Okunland in neighbouring Kogi State. It is also a vital economic route for trade and daily movement between the two states.
This latest approval adds to a growing list of major road interventions secured by Governor AbdulRazaq, who has made infrastructure renewal a central focus of his administration. Only recently, he flagged off the construction of the 15.1km Ojoku–Ilemona Road to further improve access and connectivity across rural and urban areas in the state.
… Programme targets improved transparency and service delivery across councils
The Kwara State Government has begun a four-day capacity-building training for budget, finance, and audit desk officers from all 16 local government areas to strengthen fiscal management and transparency in line with global standards.
The training, held under the state’s Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Project, focuses on the adoption of harmonized guidelines and the national chart of accounts. The HOPE Project is a World Bank-supported Performance for Results (PforR) programme covering key sectors including governance (HOPE-GOV), basic education (HOPE-EDU), and primary healthcare (HOPE-PHC).
The programme, which runs from Tuesday, October 21 to Friday, October 24, 2025, brings together cabinet members, local council chairmen, and key government officers. Its theme is “Addressing Constraints in Basic Education, Primary Health Care and Governance, and Understanding the National Chart of Accounts (NCoA), International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), the Budget Implementation Reporting (BIR) Framework and Public Audit.”
Declaring the session open, the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Kwara HOPE Project, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, said the training demonstrates Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to strengthening governance, promoting accountability, and improving service delivery at all levels.
She explained that the HOPE Project was introduced to address long-standing challenges that have hindered efficient service delivery in local governments.
“This training is not just about compliance. It is about building institutional capacity and sustaining progress. It is about empowering our officers with the knowledge and tools to drive efficiency, improve reporting accuracy, and support better decision-making,” Dr. Nuru said.
She added that the frameworks being introduced will help ensure that budgets are properly prepared, expenditures are tracked, and reports are generated in line with national and international standards.
According to her, Kwara State has already recorded significant progress through reforms implemented under the AbdulRazaq administration, including the adoption of performance-based programmes like SABER, NG-CARES, and HOPE. The state, she noted, has also benefitted from executive orders that promote fiscal discipline, ease of doing business, and transparency.
Dr. Nuru encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training to deepen collaboration between all tiers of government and sustain the confidence of development partners.
Lead Consultant for World Bank Projects in Kwara, Dr. Paul Adepelumi, said the exercise would help local governments meet World Bank requirements for transparency and accountability. He explained that the programme is tied to measurable indicators that determine states’ eligibility for support and funding.
Representatives of local government chairmen, including Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omintuntun (Offa), Hon. Shehu AbdulRahman Ladan (Ilorin West), and Hon. Abdullahi Bello (Edu), commended the state government for creating the platform. They pledged to apply the knowledge gained to strengthen planning and financial reporting in their respective councils.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of laptops to participants, five per local government, to support the practical sessions and enhance efficiency in financial documentation and reporting.
…Governor’s social protection drive expands to child education, welfare
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The Kwara State Government has announced that more than 50 street-connected children, from basic to secondary school levels, are currently benefiting from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s tuition-free education and feeding programme. Most of the children were rescued after being abandoned or left vulnerable due to poverty and family neglect.
Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, disclosed this on Tuesday during the Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Ministry of Finance conference room, Ilorin. She said the rescued children are currently housed at the State Child Reception Centre (CRC), where their educational, nutritional, and health needs are being met.
According to her, the initiative aligns with Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment to child protection and social inclusion, ensuring that every child in Kwara, regardless of background, has access to education and a better future. She added that the government is also collaborating with Al-Sadiq Foundation to empower vulnerable groups through skills acquisition and job creation programmes, designed to help beneficiaries achieve financial independence.
Hajia Imam reaffirmed that the present administration remains resolute in protecting children and supporting the less privileged through policies and partnerships that promote human dignity and social reintegration.
…AbdulRazaq’s investment in education brings long-awaited campus to life
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Academic activities have officially commenced at the Kwara State University (KWASU) Ilesha-Baruba Campus, as lectures began on Monday, November 3, 2025.
The campus, which hosts the Faculty of Agriculture, welcomed students from the Departments of Animal Production, Crop Production, and Fisheries and Aquaculture. This milestone marks the formal take-off of academic operations at the Ilesha-Baruba Campus, strengthening KWASU’s multi-campus system and advancing efforts to expand access to higher education across Kwara State.
Stakeholders and residents have commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for completing the campus infrastructure and equipping it with modern teaching facilities, transforming it from an inactive project site into a fully functional academic centre.
The completion and activation of the Ilesha-Baruba Campus reflect Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s sustained commitment to providing students in Kwara State and beyond with a safe, modern, and conducive learning environment.
…Governor AbdulRazaq Approves International Standard Facilities in Sports Infrastructure Push
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Kwara State has commenced comprehensive rehabilitation work at the Olofa Stadium in Offa, marking the first major upgrade of the sporting facility in recent years. The project, approved by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq during the State Executive Council meeting, includes installation of alternative power supply, expanded pavilion capacity, water-sprinkler systems, and international-standard natural grass turf.
Additional improvements feature a solar-powered borehole and professional pitch upgrades that will transform the stadium into a fully equipped sporting venue. The development continues the administration’s sustained investment in sports infrastructure, following earlier renovations at Kwara State Stadium Complex, Indoor Sports Hall, and specialized courts for tennis, baseball, and squash.
Offa residents and football enthusiasts have welcomed the renovation, noting the potential to inspire young athletes and increase community sports participation.
…As government upgrades 32-sport complex, Offa and Lafiagi stadia
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Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been commended for what stakeholders describe as the largest and most comprehensive investment in sports infrastructure in the history of the state.
Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Magaji, said the administration’s massive renovation of the George Innih Stadium, Ilorin — including the Pa Gabriel Ladipo Indoor Sports Hall which alone cost over ₦2 billion — has repositioned Kwara as a major sports destination in Nigeria.
“This indoor sports hall alone has gulped over ₦2bn. Government has also invested in the football field, tennis court, squash court, and several others. Not many sectors have enjoyed as much support as sports from His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in the last six years,” Magaji said during a media tour of the stadium by members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council.
He described the stadium as unmatched in Nigeria for its scope and design, housing facilities for 32 different sports in one complex — a feat, he said, that neither Lagos, Abuja, nor Ibadan stadia can match.
“Our sports complex is the only one in Nigeria where you can play almost every sport within a single location except golf. Abuja has packages A and B, but even those don’t compare to what we have here,” he added.
Magaji said the administration’s investment is not limited to the state capital, citing the ongoing reconstruction of the Offa and Lafiagi stadia as part of the Governor’s plan to decentralize sporting facilities and give equal opportunities to athletes across senatorial districts.
He noted that the state’s performance in national competitions has significantly improved under the AbdulRazaq administration, rising from 23rd to 5th place in recent National Sports Festivals — the best performance in Kwara’s history.
“The Governor has given us all the necessary encouragement, financially and morally. Some of our athletes who left Kwara before are now eager to return because of how much the Governor has changed the face of sports in the state,” Magaji said.
He also praised the Governor’s athlete reward policy, which grants ₦1 million for gold medalists, ₦500,000 for silver, and ₦300,000 for bronze winners. Coaches and officials also receive incentives, while top-performing athletes, including those with disabilities, have been gifted brand new cars.
At the Kwara Football Academy (KFA), Magaji lauded the Governor for renovating hostels, dining halls, and clinics to enhance student welfare.
Students of the academy — Abdullahi Hassan, Saad Ahmad, and Adnan Muhammad-Akanbi — described the facilities as among the best in West Africa, noting that the structured academic and training programmes have improved their development both as students and athletes.
“I love football, and I chose KFA because it is one of the best academies in Nigeria,” said Hassan.
Ahmad added: “KFA is one of the best in West Africa. They take good care of us. We have good accommodation, reliable electricity, and a well-equipped medical facility.”
Magaji concluded that Governor AbdulRazaq’s long-term vision for sports development has placed Kwara among Nigeria’s leading sporting states, creating opportunities for young talents and strengthening the local economy through sports tourism.
… Governor AbdulRazaq approves transparent process to clear backlog, prioritising retirees by year of exit
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The Kwara State Government has established two nonpartisan technical committees made up of technocrats and Labour leaders to verify gratuity records at both state and local government levels, ensuring that pensioners are paid based on when they retired from service.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq approved the initiative as part of his administration’s renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and fairness in the payment of outstanding gratuities across the state.
According to the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, the eight-member committee for state gratuities is chaired by the State Auditor General, while the Local Government Auditor General heads the committee for local government retirees.
Other members include representatives of the retired Permanent Secretaries, retired civil servants’ associations, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and certified accounting professionals from ICAN and ANAN. Mrs. Iyabo Adebayo and Mrs. Amina Ahmed will serve as secretaries for the state and local government committees respectively.
“The primary objective of the committee is to ensure the accuracy and transparent compilation of outstanding state and LGA gratuities for eligible pensioners in readiness for automated bank transfer payments,” Dr. Nuru said.
She explained that the committees have been tasked with verifying detailed yearly gratuity schedules from the pension boards, confirming the eligibility of pensioners using PSN, Pension Numbers, KWSSRA SSID database, and NIN, and reconciling all records against government documents.
The committees will also prioritise payments starting from the oldest outstanding year, recommend disbursements based on available funds, and ensure proper documentation for audit purposes.
Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration has consistently prioritised the welfare of retirees, having cleared multiple years of inherited arrears while instituting a structured, transparent process to sustain regular gratuity payments going forward.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as Chairman of the National Steering Committee for the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme. The initiative targets grassroots economic growth, livelihood enhancement, and social protection across all 8,809 wards in Nigeria.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu will serve as Vice Chairman. Committee members include governors representing the six geopolitical zones: Mai Mala Buni (North-East), Douye Diri (South-South), Dapo Abiodun (South-West), Peter Mbah (South-East), Dikko Umar Radda (North-West), and Hyacinth Alia (North-Central).
The committee convened its inaugural meeting on October 29, 2025, at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat in Abuja. Governor AbdulRazaq presided over the session, which focused on implementing the ward-based development strategy to stimulate local economies and strengthen community resilience.
In fulfillment of its commitment to providing potable water for the people, the Kwara State Government, under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has commenced the rehabilitation of the Omu-Aran Waterworks.
Commissioned in 1977 and serving Omu-Aran and neighboring communities, the rehabilitation of the facility will improve access to safe, clean drinking water and help prevent waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Over the last six years, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has invested heavily in infrastructural development, including the rehabilitation of waterworks across the state, ending years of potable water scarcity and long queues for unsafe water from tanks.
Expressing satisfaction with the pace and quality of work at the Omu-Aran Waterworks, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti Akolade Agboluaje, commended the Governor, noting that the project’s completion will significantly improve residents’ access to potable water.
Similarly, excited residents of Omu-Aran have commended the Governor AbdulRazaq for the ongoing rehabilitation, describing the project as a “lifesaver” that will end years of water scarcity in the community.
The ongoing rehabilitation of the Omu-Aran Waterworks underscores Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s dedication to ensuring that residents of Kwara not only enjoy good roads but also have reliable access to potable water.
..Begins Rehabilitation of Omu-Aran, Oyun Waterworks as Governor AbdulRazaq Pays N700m Counterpart Fund to Boost Water and Food Security
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The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to ensuring reliable access to clean and safe water for residents across the state, with major strides recorded in the rehabilitation and commissioning of key water infrastructure.
Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, stated this on Wednesday during the 2025 Third Quarter Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Ministry of Finance conference room, Ilorin.
He said the state government has completed and commissioned the Zambufu Waterworks as well as the three power phases at Otte/Budo-Egba Waterworks, while rehabilitation works at the Omu-Aran and Oyun Waterworks are progressing rapidly and will soon be completed to restore water supply to surrounding communities.
Hon. Lade also announced that Oke-Ero Local Government Area has been officially declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) by the National Council on Sanitation and Task Group (NSTG), Abuja — a development that earned the Kwara State Government commendation from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
He explained that the government has constructed modern public toilets in Balogun Alanamu, Eruda, and Ajikobi communities within Ilorin metropolis as part of efforts to curb open defecation, adding that similar projects are being extended to other local government areas.
The Commissioner further disclosed that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has paid N700 million counterpart fund for the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, which aims to enhance both water and food security across the state. Needs assessments, he said, have already been conducted for the siting of the projects.
He noted that powered and hand pump boreholes are being drilled across the three senatorial districts, while extensive pipe repairs and extensions have been carried out within Ilorin metropolis to improve water distribution.
Hon. Lade added that the Kwara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) has completed a solar-powered borehole at the Ministry of Livestock and concluded the first phase of renovation at the Kwara State Water Corporation headquarters on Zulu Gambari Road, Ilorin.
He said the government is also exploring alternative power solutions to ensure uninterrupted water supply across the state, stressing that the AbdulRazaq administration remains committed to delivering sustainable and people-centred water infrastructure for every community in Kwara.
