The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has praised Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his consistent support for local content development and his commitment to empowering indigenous contractors across the state.
In a letter to the Governor dated October 2025, the COREN Chairman in Kwara State, Engr. Bashiru Lawal, said the Governor’s deliberate policy of engaging local professionals and companies aligns with the Council’s advocacy for the promotion of indigenous expertise in project execution.
“On behalf of COREN Kwara State Office and the entire engineering community, we express our appreciation to Your Excellency for your exemplary commitment to empowering indigenous contractors through the recent award of contracts, especially the engagement of Messrs CPN for the construction of the Ojoku–Ilemona Road,” the letter read in part.
Engr. Lawal added that this approach strengthens local capacity, creates jobs, encourages technology transfer, and supports sustainable development within the state. He described the Governor’s leadership as a model worthy of emulation by other states and public institutions across Nigeria.
At a recent press briefing, the Commissioner for Works, Hon. AbdulQuawy Olododo, said that over 70 percent of construction projects in Kwara are handled by local contractors. He noted that this policy has significantly boosted the state’s economy by creating employment opportunities and retaining value within the local market.
The statement reaffirmed COREN’s commitment to working with the state government to uphold professional and ethical standards in all engineering-related projects across Kwara State.
…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 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.
Kwara State has been ranked third nationwide in the 2025 edition of BudgIT’s State of States Report, confirming the state’s steady rise as one of Nigeria’s most fiscally responsible and sustainably managed subnationals.
The latest ranking, which placed Anambra, Lagos, and Kwara in the top three positions respectively, reflects Kwara’s strong financial prudence, improved internally generated revenue, and consistent prioritisation of capital investment under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
BudgIT, a civic-tech organisation that promotes fiscal transparency and accountability, unveiled the report in Lagos with the theme “A Decade of Subnational Fiscal Analysis: Growth, Decline and Middling Performance.” The report marks ten years of tracking the fiscal health and governance efficiency of Nigerian states, assessing revenue generation, debt management, expenditure patterns, and sectoral investments in education and health.
The 2025 ranking highlights Kwara’s upward movement from fourth place in 2024 to third position this year, solidifying its place among the top-performing states. According to BudgIT, Kwara’s fiscal sustainability, prudent spending, and investment in capital projects continue to distinguish it from several subnationals still struggling with over-reliance on federal allocations.
The report also recognised Kwara among only five states alongside Abia, Anambra, Ogun, and Edo that generated enough internal revenue to cover at least half of their operating expenses. This development underscores the growing strength of Kwara’s economic base and the effectiveness of its revenue reforms.
BudgIT’s analysis noted that Kwara maintained a healthy balance between recurrent and capital expenditure, prioritising infrastructure and social investment while keeping personnel costs and debt obligations within sustainable limits.
The organisation also observed that Kwara’s performance over the past few years aligns with the state’s consistent focus on long-term fiscal planning, transparency, and diversification of its revenue sources.
Overall, BudgIT’s 2025 report identified Kwara as a model for subnational governance, citing its fiscal discipline, reform-driven leadership, and strategic investments that have enhanced economic resilience and improved the quality of life for its citizens.
Commenting on the new ranking, BudgIT’s Group Head of Research, Vahyala Kwaga, said the decade-long analysis reinforces the importance of sound fiscal management in achieving sustainable development across states.
Kwara’s top-tier ranking follows similar recognitions in recent years, positioning the state among Nigeria’s most stable, transparent, and investment-ready economies.
… State sets commissioning timelines for Patigi Regatta Motel, International Conference Centre, and other major projects
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The Kwara State Government has announced the completion of several key projects aimed at driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and industrial growth across the state, including the 50-ton Shea Butter Factory in Kaiama and the ICT Hub in Shonga.
Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Hon. Damilola Yusuf Adelodun, disclosed this on Wednesday during the 2025 Third Quarter Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Ministry of Finance conference room in Ilorin.
She said the Shea Butter Factory has reached the equipment testing stage and will soon be commissioned, adding that the facility will boost local production, support farmers, and enhance the state’s export capacity. The Commissioner confirmed that the newly completed ICT Hub in Shonga, Kwara North, is now at the equipment installation and electrical phase, ready to serve as a digital innovation centre for young entrepreneurs.
Hon. Adelodun also announced that work on the Ilorin International Conference Centre (IICC) has reached 47% completion and is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2026, while the remodeling of Kwara Hotel stands at 71% completion with the same delivery timeline. The Patigi Regatta Motel is 80% completed, with final works ongoing ahead of commissioning in December 2025.
She described the projects as part of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration’s vision to create a modern, innovation-driven economy, noting that the government has successfully executed and managed 11 landmark projects across the three senatorial districts.
The Commissioner cited the Ilorin Innovation Hub—now recognised as the largest tech hub in Nigeria—and the Kwara Garment Factory as examples of projects that are creating jobs and expanding industrial capacity in the state. She added that the Sugar Film Factory has placed Kwara on the national creative industry map, with its first TV series, Ajuwaya, already in production.
Adelodun further disclosed that the Ministry, in partnership with Kwara State University (KWASU), successfully launched Nigeria’s first gas-to-electric vehicle conversion project, reinforcing Kwara’s leadership in green technology.
She noted that the Kwara Coding and Digital Literacy Programme has trained over 5,500 students from 50 public schools across all 16 local government areas, equipping young Kwarans with digital and creative skills to compete globally.
Hon. Adelodun reaffirmed that the government remains committed to promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth, adding that its participation in national trade fairs and investment summits has continued to attract investors and showcase Kwara’s expanding business ecosystem.
Projects to boost access to life-saving oxygen supply across Kwara North and South
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The Kwara State Government has commissioned two state-of-the-art Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) Oxygen Plants at the General Hospital, Lafiagi, and the Thomas Adewumi Teaching Hospital, Omu-Aran. The projects, donated by the Global Fund, mark another major step in the state’s effort to strengthen healthcare delivery and emergency response capacity.
The plants are designed to serve as regional hubs for the production of medical-grade oxygen, ensuring a steady, affordable, and locally sourced supply to hospitals across Kwara State, particularly in the northern and southern senatorial districts.
Speaking at the technical commissioning ceremonies, Commissioner for Health Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, represented by the Assistant Director of Medical Laboratory Services, Alhaji Toyin Raji, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare journey.
“Medical oxygen remains a critical life-saving resource used daily in neonatal care, surgeries, and respiratory treatments. With these plants, our hospitals will now enjoy a reliable and affordable oxygen supply produced locally. That means more hope and better health outcomes for our patients,” she said.
Dr. El-Imam expressed appreciation to the Global Fund for its generous support and to the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for their collaboration. She said the initiative aligns with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s vision to make healthcare accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all Kwarans.
Zonal Coordinator for North Central Oxygen at the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Onoja Kingsley, who led the technical inspection, said all components of the plants—including the air compressor, PSA oxygen generator, booster compressor, and filling ramp—were tested and certified for efficiency and purity.
He advised the state to establish an Oxygen Committee and create a sustainability plan to ensure the plants’ continuous operation beyond their five-year warranty period. “The plants should not only produce oxygen but also generate revenue through sales, with proceeds reinvested in maintenance and operations,” he added.
Chief Medical Director of Lafiagi General Hospital, Dr. Saliu Bolakale, commended the state government and the Global Fund for their commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure. He said the plant would enhance service delivery and save countless lives through reliable oxygen access.
“This project marks a major advancement in our healthcare infrastructure and demonstrates government’s consistent dedication to the wellbeing of its people,” he said.
The event was attended by representatives of the Global Fund, NACA, the Federal Ministry of Health, and senior officials from the Kwara State Ministry of Health, who all described the commissioning as a landmark achievement in the state’s ongoing health sector transformation.
