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  • I’m interested in building legacies, not dynasty, Gov AbdulRazaq tells APC stakeholders, thought leaders

    I’m interested in building legacies, not dynasty, Gov AbdulRazaq tells APC stakeholders, thought leaders

    • Your strides are visible, Senator Mustapha, AGF, Speaker, others
    • ⁠Cabinet members roll out cross sector achievements
    • ⁠Security remains a top priority: Gov

    Kwara APC stakeholders and thought leaders were awestruck on Monday evening as cabinet members took turns to give data, figures, and footages of how far the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has gone in delivering its campaign promises across the state.

    Commissioner for Works Abdulquawy Olododo said official records show that the Abdulrazaq administration now has more completed, ongoing, or facilitated (tax credit) road projects than the three previous administrations since 1999 combined.

    He said the administration has completed 302.4kms of roads between 2019 and now, has 275.25km ongoing, including the 209.7km under RAAMP, along with the 294km tax credit road — totaling 871.65km of roads.

    “Between 1999 and 2019, available records show that a total of 651.2km roads were done by the three administrations of His Excellencies Mohammed Lawal, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and Abdulfatah Ahmed, including the 120km FG-funded Chickanda Road under Senator Saraki. When you juxtapose these records, it is clear that His Excellency AbdulRazaq has surpassed that record today,”
    Olododo said, backing his presentation with footages of achievements of the administration.

    Commissioner for Finance Dr. Hauwa Nuhu said the government has also implemented two minimum wages and paid more counterpart funds than any previous administrations, restating the commitment of the Governor to the wellbeing of Kwarans, including civil servants.

    She said the administration has grown the state’s internal revenue from N30.6bn in 2019 to N87.1bn as at Dec 19, 2025 — more than 100 per cent growth in six years.

    She mentioned that the administration has cleared all salary and pension arrears the administration inherited — while 100% CONMESS and CONHESS have also been paid and a new 27.5% Teachers Specific Allowance (TSA) has just been approved.

    Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, who detailed the trajectory of school infrastructure and other efforts of the government, said the AbdulRazaq administration has hired 8,912 teachers, constructed more than 2,000 classrooms, and bridged gaps in staff welfare, including fixing promotion arrears since 2016 to date.

    A presentation on the urban renewal initiative and the Kwara Smart City added vistas to the event as Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Dr. Segun Ogunsola explained the vision and the steps so far taken, including the construction work on the Kwara State University of Education.

    Dignitaries at the event said the achievements of the Governor are unprecedented, phenomenal, visible
    to all, and laudable within the context of Kwara’s sociopolitical history.

    Senator Salihu Mustapha (Kwara Central) said: “With these achievements that we have seen here today, I think it’s a thing of joy that it is in our lifetime that we have a Governor who, in his quiet moment, has been able to achieve this. If anybody has told us that the state has progressed to this level, we will not believe it but we have seen it first hand.

    “From today, I am one of those who will carry the flag out there and say come to Kwara and see what the Governor has done. This is a gathering of APC family and it indicates that we were not wrong in the choice of our leader.

    “We have seen the human capital development, we have seen the infrastructural development, we have seen the social welfare, what else do you need in a society again? All we need to do is to continue to pray and beg Allah for a peaceful co-existence.

    “For me at the end of this programme, Kwarans should go on a celebration galore because in the last 16 years before His Excellency, I don’t think anybody can boast of infrastructural development like this. I want to thank His Excellency, who has led us this far and also to the committed team God has given him.”

    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Prince Lateef Fagbemi said the Governor has done very well, calling on critics to be fair in pointing out areas they want improvements on as no system is ever perfect.

    “I want to say that the meeting of today is not just to eat. We have been treated to the achievements of the Governor. Believe me, if you bring a blind man to Kwara State, he would know and appreciate that developments are taking place,” he said.

    “Don’t let us be sentimental. We are all living witnesses to the good performance of this administration. If we allow this chance to slip away we will all suffer for it. We are bound to disagree but the solution is not in destroying ourselves.

    “When the thing is not going in the way you think, or perceive, and the way you would have loved it to be, the solution is not in destroying the programme. We have seen how the Governor has managed labour issues. We have also seen his achievements in education and healthcare, and others.”

    Speaker of the House of House of Assembly Engr. Salihu Yakubu-Danladi said the lawmakers in the state have always been convinced that the Governor is a superlative achiever whose footprints exist everywhere in the state.

    His words: “On behalf of my colleagues in the 10th Assembly, I want to state that we have been part and parcel of this government in the last six years. Most of these achievements are what we see in every budget circle, just as we are aware that the Governor has just presented the 2026 budget today.

    “The Governor of Kwara State has done wonderfully well in the 24 state constituencies. In all 193 wards, there are projects everywhere. Aside from the physical infrastructure, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has done very well in the areas of stomach infrastructure through social investment programmes.”

    Director General, Nigeria Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Issa Lanre Onilu, said with the catalogue of sectoral achievements projected at the event, Governor AbdulRazaq has performed beyond his initial estimation.

    He enjoined AbdulRazaq to focus more on how to sustain some of his legacy projects, including the iconic Garment Factory, Innovation Hub, and the Kwara Smart City.

    “I have always thanked our Governor and our leader for the wonderful job he is doing. But let me admit that even when I was commending him, I didn’t know this much. So, the commendations I gave to him were based on what I saw. But what I have seen today is far more than what I have ever imagined.

    “I want to say clearly that we all have every reason to be proud of what has happened in the last six years. If you are not proud of it, it means you really do not know what is on the ground.

    “The people I want to talk to are those in charge of our communication: please do not fall into the trap of exchanging words with the people who set us back for several years. They want you to discuss politics, they want you to discuss the mundane and irrelevant things, but let me tell you clearly that you have a lot to showcase. Focus on what we have done in the last six years, focus on the development in all the local government areas that people can see and feel. As far as governance is concerned, we have done well and Otoge has proven to be a remarkable success for this state.”

    Director General, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Abdullateef Shittu,
    commended the Governor’s style of leadership both as NGF Chairman and as Governor of the state.

    He described AbdulRazaq as a leader who is calm but firm, consultative but decisive, and one who is grounded in institutional respect.

    “This gathering speaks to a deeper leadership instinct: the understanding that political success is sustained when dialogue remains open, when differences are managed with wisdom, and when collective responsibility is placed above individual ambition. These are values that Kwara State has come to be known for under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,” he said.

    State ALGON Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar Danladi, said no single political ward in the state has not benefitted one form of capital project or the other, adding that the impacts are already being felt.

    Amb. Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, Dr. Amina Ahmed and Engr Nurudeen Adeyemi, who spoke for the three Senatorial Districts, commended the Governor’s style of leadership, his political tolerance, and a dedication to rewrite the story of Kwara.

    In a short address to party leaders and thought leaders who attended the event, Governor AbdulRazaq said “I am just interested in building a legacy of leaving this state far more than I met it, a legacy of a state that is viable. I am not interested in building a dynasty, and I urge that we work together for a greater state”.

    He also spoke extensively on security matters, giving insights into the successes and the challenges and reassuring the people of the government’s commitment to rid the state of kidnappers and terrorists.

    He acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu whose economic policies the Governor said has freed up resources with which the government is able to expand infrastructure at various layers.

    Governor Abdulrazaq commended everyone for turning up for the event, which he said was a continuation of the parley that held in Abuja a few weeks ago.

    Rafiu Ajakaye
    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
    December 23, 2025

  • BREAKING: My client Hon. Illiasu Ibrahim fainted, can’t attend court session now, Counsel tells court in defamation case▪︎ Court adjourns to Jan. 7 for arraignment

    BREAKING: My client Hon. Illiasu Ibrahim fainted, can’t attend court session now, Counsel tells court in defamation case▪︎ Court adjourns to Jan. 7 for arraignment

    There was a mild drama at the Kwara State High Court Ilorin on Friday as Hon. IIliasu Ibrahim failed to turn up for his arraignment in a defamation case slammed on him.

    The case followed a petition by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mr. Shuaib Aremu Olowo after Hon. Ibrahim Ibrahim and his two other cohorts went on radio to accuse Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of awarding an $800m contract to his elder and Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq.

    The APC chieftain said the accusations were a dent on the party ahead of the election.

    At the hearing for the arraignment of Alhaji lIliasu Ibrahim, Mr. Shola Muse, and Adesemowo Suleiman, counsel to Iliasu Bar. Taofeeq Olateju told the court that the 81-year-old controversial politician had collapsed following “abdominal pain, generalised body pain, and headache” and is being treated for “enteritis”.

    “In view of this, he is presently unfit for any activity until there is significant improvement and discharged home,” the counsel said. Barr Taofeeq Olateju further took excuses for Mall Shola Muse that he could not attend his arraignment on the grounds that he is not in Kwara State as the time he was to be served his charge sheet prior to today’s arraignment, same reason was given by Barr A. A Ibrahim who represented the third Defendant one Adesemowo Suleiman (aka Omo Ifokonbale) for his absence in court.

    The presiding judge, Justice E. B. Mohammed warned the defendants through their counsels, that court has not taken cognizance of them since they are yet to be arraigned before the court and therefore adjourned their arraignment to Jan. 7, 2026, while asking them to unfailingly turn up on the next adjournment date .

  • Ribadu’s Office Admits Giving Arms To Vigilantes In Kwara

    Ribadu’s Office Admits Giving Arms To Vigilantes In Kwara

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has admitted giving arms to Vigilantes to support security forces in countering terrorism, banditry and other criminal elements in difficult terrains.

    A statement by the Head, Strategic Communications, National Counter Terrorism Centre, ONSA, Mr Abu Michael, said pursuant to Part III, Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the ONSA, continued to coordinate and support law enforcement, security, and intelligence agencies in countering all forms of terrorism in Nigeria.

    He stated this while responding to media reports on the Kwara State incident where a rifle issued by the office of the National Security Adviser was recovered.

    He urged the media to exercise responsibility, protect sensitive security information, and seek clarification through designated official spokespersons.

    According to the Spokesman, recent media reports published on some online platforms have made it necessary to clarify ongoing counter-terrorism operations in parts of the country, particularly in forested areas of Kwara State.

    He said, “In line with the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST), Nigeria’s kinetic approach includes the deployment of hybrid forces. This involves the coordinated use of regular security forces and trained irregular auxiliaries, such as hunters and vigilante elements, to operate in difficult terrains, including forest areas.

    “This approach previously guided the engagement of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the North East. The CJTF comprised trained civilian volunteers who worked alongside the Armed Forces in operations against Boko Haram.

    “The same strategy currently informs hybrid deployments in parts of the North West and North Central. These operations are aimed at degrading the capabilities of bandit, criminal, and terrorist groups. This approach has yielded several successful outcomes.

    “The situation in Kwara State is not different. However, media reports on the matter are inaccurate. The limited public information is due to the sensitive nature of these operations.”

    He noted that details of the incident were being restricted to prevent operational compromise and to protect the safety of personnel and auxiliary forces.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Government and its agencies are not conducting kinetic operations with any socio-cultural groups.

    “Claims that the Office of the National Security Adviser has provided arms to any socio-cultural organisation are false and should be disregarded,” he added.

    He said all hybrid personnel were recruited directly by authorised security and intelligence agencies following due diligence.

    “All operations are conducted in accordance with the law and established standard operating procedures,”.
    He therefore, urged the public to disregard unverified reports that misrepresent the conduct of these operations.

    “The media is also urged to exercise responsibility, protect sensitive security information, and seek clarification through designated official spokespersons,” he stated.

    He further assured that the National Counter Terrorism Centre remained committed to an open-door policy to deepen stakeholder understanding of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.

  • Kwara Govt Denies Army Arrest of Bandits in Ifelodun, Warns Against Panic-Inducing Misinformation

    Kwara Govt Denies Army Arrest of Bandits in Ifelodun, Warns Against Panic-Inducing Misinformation

    …says suspects in viral video were arrested outside the state as investigations continue

    The Kwara State Government has dismissed claims circulating on social media that the Nigerian Army arrested armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area, describing the reports as false and capable of causing unnecessary panic.

    In a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, the government said no security agency, including the Nigerian Army, carried out any arrest of armed bandits in Ifelodun or any other part of Kwara State.

    “The Nigerian Army did not arrest any armed bandits in any part of Ifelodun,” the statement said, adding that the government had closely reviewed the viral video in which some suspects claimed they were in possession of a vehicle allegedly given to them by the “Ilorin Government” and weapons supposedly sourced “from Abuja.”

    According to the state government, while the content of the video and the circumstances surrounding the suspects are under investigation, available information indicates that the individuals were not arrested in Kwara State. Rather, they were reportedly apprehended in Auchi, Edo State. The government said further details are being awaited to clarify the situation.

    The statement also clarified that no state government has the authority to arm individuals with AK-47 rifles, stressing that the suspects did not claim that the Kwara State Government provided them with any weapons.

    On the issue of the vehicle mentioned in the video, the government said the Ifelodun Local Government Authority had confirmed that a security van was earlier provided to vigilantes deployed in the area to support security efforts. However, the vigilantes have since left Ifelodun, and the local government had previously reported that the vehicle was not returned to its custody.

    The state government called for stronger interagency coordination, intelligence sharing, and cooperation among security agencies as part of efforts to curb banditry and other violent crimes.

    It also urged members of the public, especially online media platforms and bloggers, to exercise restraint and avoid misrepresenting security-related information.

    “Biased assimilation or misrepresentation of information poses a serious threat to human lives and public peace,” the statement said, assuring residents that security agencies are probing the matter and that the government remains committed to public safety.

  • SWAN Kwara Unveils Awardees for 2025 Personality Lecture in Ilorin

    SWAN Kwara Unveils Awardees for 2025 Personality Lecture in Ilorin

    The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kwara State Chapter, has concluded plans to host its 2025 Personality Lecture, during which several distinguished personalities will be honoured for their contributions to sports and community development.

    The event, scheduled as part of the association’s end-of-year activities, will hold at the Taiwo Awoniyi Media Sports Centre, SWAN Secretariat, George Innih Stadium, Ilorin.

    The ceremony will feature special recognitions for individuals who have made notable impacts in sports development, media excellence, and public service. The awardees include:

    Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor

    Air Vice Marshal L. I. Oluwatoyin

    Engr. Femi Sanni (Araba) FNICE, Chairman, stefolga, Flow FM, and Araba FC

    Engr. Nurudeen Adeyemi, Board Member, TETFUND

    Alhaji Mohammed Olatunji, CEO, Ilorin Motors

    Veteran broadcaster and former NTA General Manager, Alhaji Hammed Adio, will deliver the lecture with the theme: “6 Years of Purposeful Leadership: Rebuilding Institutions, Empowering Athletes and Positioning Kwara for Sports Excellence.

    Chairman of SWAN Kwara, Ayodeji Ismail, who will host the event, said the lecture and awards are aimed at celebrating individuals whose efforts have advanced sports growth and strengthened media stakeholder collaborations in the state.

    The programme is expected to attract sports administrators, athletes, journalists, and top government officials.

  • Kwara Students Win Global Debate Championship in Malaysia

    Kwara Students Win Global Debate Championship in Malaysia

    …State’s public school team defeats contenders from 16 countries to lift international title

    #KwaraRising

    Kwara State has recorded another major milestone in education as its public school students emerged champions at the 2025 Asia Parliamentary International Debate Competition (Junior Secondary School Category) held in Malaysia.

    The team, which represented Nigeria at the global contest, outperformed participants from 16 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe to claim the top prize. Their victory adds to Kwara’s growing list of achievements in competitive debating, where the state has previously held multiple national titles.

    Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq expressed his excitement at the latest feat, saying the students had once again placed Nigeria on the global stage for academic excellence. He praised the team for their brilliance, resilience, and the honour they have brought to both the state and the country.

    The governor said the win reflects the impact of the administration’s continued investment in basic education. He added that the government remains committed to improving learning outcomes and strengthening the education system across the state.

    He also commended the leadership of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, headed by Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, along with the coaches and other stakeholders who contributed to the students’ preparation and success.

    According to him, their dedication has been central to the steady progress recorded in the state’s basic education reforms.

  • NGF Endorses Tinubu’s Military Intervention in Benin, Cites National Security Imperative

    NGF Endorses Tinubu’s Military Intervention in Benin, Cites National Security Imperative


    …Governors’ Forum Says Swift Action Averted Regional Destabilization Threat

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has commended President Bola Tinubu’s decisive military response to the recent coup attempt in Benin Republic, describing it as a necessary step to safeguard Nigeria’s security interests. In a statement issued on Monday, NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq warned that a successful takeover in Benin would have emboldened militant groups in the Sahel and further destabilized the subregion.

    “With the Sahel in disarray and portions of Benin already impacted by insurgent activity, a successful coup would have posed grave consequences for Nigeria due to our shared borders,” the statement noted. The Forum emphasized that protecting constitutional order in Benin directly enhances Nigeria’s own security, particularly for states bordering the Republic.

    Governor AbdulRazaq affirmed that democracy, despite its challenges, remains vital for regional peace and development. He praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their timely intervention, which helped restore stability in Benin on the invitation of its government.

    The NFG’s endorsement aligns with broader ECOWAS security efforts, underscoring the interconnected nature of regional stability. “Security threats to Porto Novo, Cotonou, or Parakou constitute a direct risk to Nigeria,” the statement concluded, framing Tinubu’s action as a proactive defense of national and West African interests.

  • Police Intercept Arms Courier, Recover 100 Rounds of Ammunition in Kwara

    Police Intercept Arms Courier, Recover 100 Rounds of Ammunition in Kwara

    …Routine stop-and-search leads to major breakthrough in ongoing crackdown on kidnapping networks

    Police operatives in Kwara State have arrested a suspected arms courier and recovered 100 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Gbugbu/Patigi road in Edu Local Government Area.

    The arrest comes barely 24 hours after operatives of the Department of State Services apprehended a medical doctor accused of transporting medical supplies from Sokoto State to kidnapping gangs operating within Kwara.

    According to security sources, a patrol team attached to the Lafiaji Area Command intercepted a Toyota Corolla with registration number EP 434 ABC at about 7:30 a.m. on Friday. During the search, officers discovered 100 rounds of live ammunition concealed among personal belongings, alongside various charms believed to be used for protection.

    The vehicle was driven by one Owolaramfe Rafiu, who was travelling with four other occupants identified as Musa Mohammed, Adam Alhaji Lawal, and Musa Shaibu. All occupants were immediately arrested.

    Police authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway to track down the intended recipient of the ammunition, noting that the arrests form part of a broader effort to curb the operations of kidnapping syndicates in the state.

    The suspects remain in custody as security agencies intensify their crackdown on criminal networks across Kwara.

  • Police Nab Kidnapping Syndicate Member, Disrupt Banditry Networks in Kwara

    Police Nab Kidnapping Syndicate Member, Disrupt Banditry Networks in Kwara


    …Coordinated Security Operations Yield Arrests of Arms Courier, Suspect, and Medicinal Supplier

    Kwara State has recorded significant breakthroughs in counter-banditry operations with the arrest of a key kidnapping syndicate member and an allied medical supplier within 24 hours. The arrests follow the earlier interception of an arms courier transporting 100 rounds of live ammunition along the Gbugbu-Patigi road on Friday.

    Police operatives, acting on community intelligence from Oro-Ago in Ifelodun Local Government Area, apprehended Aliu Abubakar at a local motor park. Initially claiming to be visiting an uncle, Abubakar was linked through digital evidence to images brandishing an AK-47 rifle alongside known associates Buba, Auta, and Bello ‘Smally’. Further photographs showed large sums of cash he confessed were proceeds from kidnapping activities.

    This operation came hours after the Department of State Services arrested a medical doctor accused of supplying drugs and medication to kidnapping gangs in the state. The suspect is currently aiding investigations with what officials describe as valuable intelligence for ongoing counter-kidnapping missions.

    Security authorities confirm the coordinated operations have visibly disrupted resurgent banditry activities, restoring a sense of safety in recently affected communities. The police emphasized continued collaboration with local vigilantes and residents to sustain the gains.

  • KWSG NEVER AWARDED $800M CONTRACT TO ANYONE — SPOX

    KWSG NEVER AWARDED $800M CONTRACT TO ANYONE — SPOX

    Kwara State Government did not at any time award a contract to the elder brother of the Governor and Mutawali of Ilorin, Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq, according to a statement on Thursday.

    The statement added that a comment attributed to Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim that the Governor awarded a contract worth $800m (₦1.2trillion) is false, reckless, ill-conceived, and intended to cause mischief and public dissatisfaction.

    “At no time did the government of the state even award a contract worth $800m. We are, therefore, alarmed by the depth of recklessness and evil intent that made Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim to claim in a radio broadcast that His Excellency awarded a contract or empowerment worth $800m to his elder brother. This is false, baseless, and malicious,” the statement said.

    “Throughout the radio programme, Alhaji Iliasu and his co-travellers did not mention the specific FG’s project or programme that he claimed was awarded to Dr. Alimi. The Governor’s elder brother, Dr. Alimi, is an accomplished and respected senior lawyer and a Bencher. He is not a contractor.

    “Besides, at no time did Kwara get a Federal Government project or empowerment worth $800m (₦1.2trillion) — much less award it to anyone in the state. But particularly concerning is how a radio station allowed its platform to peddle such disinformation without anyone on its management team cautioning the guest and the anchor.

    “Whilst Alhaji Iliasu has a history of queer public conducts long managed by everyone, repeatedly offering such persons a platform to cause mischief and incite public disaffection on a grander scale carries immeasurable risk for any reputable media platform and public peace.

    “We concede the right of every citizen to freedom of expression. However, such freedom comes with corresponding responsibility and a duty of care to other citizens and the general public.

    “As democrats, we request the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to do justice in this matter as soon as possible — even as other private citizens maligned in the reckless radio programme are within their right to do a review of same.”

    Bolanle Olukoju
    Commissioner for Communications
    Kwara State Government
    December 4, 2025