Kwara South Residents Laud Governor AbdulRazaq over Rural Transformation

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The people of Kwara South Senatorial District have commended the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,  for the ongoing rural transformation of the  district  through the opening of access roads since assumption of office.
The senatorial zone comprises seven local government councils of Ifelodun, Offa, Oyun, Isin, Oke-Ero, Ekiti and Irepodun.
Speaking with newsmen during the tours of the affected seven local government councils over the weekend, the residents stated that, there was no doubt that the rehabilitation and construction of the roads in the affected local government councils had gone a long way of accelerating the economic development of the senatorial.
The people, who hitherto said  the bad nature of the rural roads had caused health challenges such as catarrh, cough and asthma, among other ailments, added that they had heaved a sigh of relief with the asphalted roads.
For instance, the  Deputy Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Oro-Ago, Oladiran Aweda, said the completion of 2.3 kilometer Oro Ago- Oyate  project in Ifelodun local government council area of the state  had forced down prices of farm produce.
Aweda said two tubers of yam that were sold for N2,000 before the road was constructed now go for N700 because of easy access to farm sites.
To this end, the union has appealed to the governor to assist them in procuring new vehicles to ply the route to further boost economic activities of the people of the local government area.
“We want to appeal to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to assist us with vehicles so that we van ply the route. Trailers are now coming into Oro-Ago to load farm produce like yam, maize to other parts of the state because our road is now good and the farmer can access farm and market easily. We thank Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for this,” he said.
At Taiwo Road, the second  busiest road in Offa, the users said before the road was reconstructed about two years ago, it was filled with pot holes. Therefore, there used to be daily accidents, particularly by the motorcyclists, while dodging the pot holes such that peoples legs were freely broken.
“Buy today, all those experiences are no more since the roads have been repaired and Ashphalted, though the users observed few uncompleted aspects of the road by the contractor which need to be done to make the road last longer.”
According to  Wale Sharp, one of the road users and electronics repairer at Taiwo Road, “talking about the benefits, unlike before now the road was pot holes everywhere, accidents by motorcyclists were very frequent on this road then.
“We experienced accidents three or four times in a day with the cyclists and passengers breaking their legs while trying to avoid the pot holes. But now we are enjoying it after it has been repaired and asphalted the regular accidents have considerably reduced. “
In Erin-Ile, the Oyun local government area of the state, cross section of road users and residents who spoke said Esie-Iludun completed asphalt road executed by the present administration had opened up business opportunity for residents as new lock up shops are now springing up along the road.
A resident of the area Mrs.  Ayo Grace, said that the road, which leads to the ancient Esie National Museum has boosted tourism, adding that selling and buying have improved in the area due to the new asphalt road.