58th IEDPU Conference: Kwara Gov unveils plan on Ilorin Smart City, infrastructural upgrades

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday said preliminary works will begin next year on the 18,000-hectare Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town that the administration has designed for the expansion of the capital city.

Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town is an offshoot of the Ilorin City Master Plan, the second of such blueprint for urban planning since the state was created in 1967.

Speaking at the 58th Annual National Conference of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Prograssive Union (IEDPU), the Governor said the capital city deserves constant infrastructural upgrade, maintenance, and expansion, following its positions in the state and central Nigeria — just as he is making efforts to expand infrastructure in other parts of the state.

“Next year, we plan to commence preliminary works on the Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town, which should cover an area of 18,000 kilometres. This is a beautiful adaptation from the Ilorin City Masterplan that I had previously discussed in this gathering two years ago,” he said at the event which took place at the forecourt of the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari (CFR).

“I therefore invite you to support this historic milestone in the socioeconomic and physical evolution of Ilorin and Kwara State as a whole. It will usher in immeasurable growth, huge investments in real estate, and the opportunities that come with building a new city.”

The Governor congratulated the Emir, IEDPU, and sons and daughters of Ilorin on another impressive outing this year, praying Allah to grant the Emirate many more successes in the coming years and to make the state a positive reference point in harmony, peace, and prosperity.

“Our gathering here serves to chat for this great emirate a new agenda of development, unity, brotherhood, and general wellbeing of our people. I am excited that His Royal Highness and indeed the IEDPU have remained reliable partners for inclusive growth, continuous improvement in the living standards of the people, and steady evolution of Ilorin into a mega city,” he stated.

“The Ilorin City Master Plan is the second comprehensive document since the 1970s that outlines how the capital city should be planned. But it is just the first phase of the master plans we are bequeathing to the state, in shaa Allaah. Other phases will be for Kwara South and Kwara North. I thank the IEDPU and other stakeholders for their contributions to it.

“Your Royal Highness, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, not only does Ilorin constantly need infrastructural upgrade, maintenance, and expansion because of its positions in our state and central Nigeria, the reality is that the capital city is at the risk of becoming a slum if nothing is done to give it a befitting expansion that improves its standing and makes it a 21st century city on a sustainable basis.”

The Governor appreciated the people of the Emirate for their unflinching support for the administration in the last four years, especially during the last general election.

AbdulRazaq announced a personal donation of #25 million to support the IEDPU’s skill acquisition centre and the Central Mosque.

The socio-cultural gathering was attended by top government functionaries, and prominent individuals from within and outside the state, including Grand Kadi Kwara State Shari’a Court of Appeal Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen Al-Adabiy; Chief of Staff to the Governor Prince Abdulkadir Mahe; Imam Imole of Ilorin Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulhammed; Mufty Ilorin Sheikh Suleiman Faruq Onikijipa; former Grand Kadi and Chairman of the occasion Justice Idris Haroon (Red); Chairperson and Matron for IEDPU Western Zone Hajia Fatimah Toyin Shuaibu; Chairman, AA RANO Nig Ltd and principal launcher Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, who was represented by Alhaji Muhammed Bello; and the IEDPU President Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman.