From Samuel James, Ilorin

Kwara State Government has commenced works on the expansion and rehabilitation of recently approved Ibrahim Taiwo road in Offa town.

This intervention on the road has attracted commendations from Olofa of Offa and Offa Descendants Union (ODU) as well as others indegene of the town.

Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi on Tuesday called on the people of the community to support the expansion and rehabilitation works recently approved for the popular Ibrahim Taiwo road.

Olofa spoke at his palace during a sensitisation visit by the Commissioner for Works Abdulquawiy Olododo, where he sought public support for the extensive construction works.

The Commissioner’s entourage was the Executive Chairman, Kwara State Geographical Information Service Alhaji Abdulkareem Suleiman; Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rafiu Ajakaye; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Infrastructure Ladi Yusuf; and some senior bureaucrats.

The team was received at the Palace by Olofa of Offa Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II alongside many High Chiefs and the leadership of the Offa Descendants’ Union (ODU).

“We are happy for what brought you here today. We thank His Excellency for always being with us. His Excellency has always shown us that Offa is his second home,” Olofa of Offa said.

“We are always in support of his good works and laudable projects, and we pray Almighty Allah to be with him in all his endeavours.

“I am sending out my chiefs and representatives to inform the people of the need to support this laudable developmental project. Nobody should disturb the contractor under any guise. If you have anything obstructing the government’s setbacks, please remove it. This is in our interest.”

In his remarks the commissioner said their visit to the First Class monarch is to seek his support, especially with a view to educating his subjects and those whose temporary structures have taken over the road set back to give way.

“We are here in Offa to meet the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II and the Offa Descendants Union (ODU) and to intimate them and the entire Offa community about the reconstruction of Ibrahim Taiwo road,” he said.

“For us to reconstruct and expand this road, we will need to claim the government setback where we have some temporary structures. So we need their cooperation.

“As you all know, this government of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is about the people and there is the need for us to communicate and engage with the community for them to be aware of exactly what our intentions are and what we are doing. We are glad about the reception by Olofa and the ODU.”

The Commissioner said the contractors are on site to proceed with the work, which will last for four months.

The road will be supported with concrete drainage, solar street lights, and walkways, he added.

Also, the National Vice President for ODU, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, commended the administration for the project, which he said reflects government commitment to infrastructural growth across the state.

He then urged the residents to always respect road setbacks when erecting any structures, saying road setbacks are meant for public advantage.

“We want everybody to key into what the government is doing. The government is not doing anything that is bad. It is the right thing to maintain the setbacks while building anything. So, the road setbacks belong to the government, and that is what the government is claiming for the good of our community,” he said.