The Kwara State House of Assembly says, it will not support any project or policy that will adversely affect the wellbeing of the people of the State.
The Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad gave this indication in Ilorin at the Weekend, while declaring open a Public hearing on alleged illegal erection of Shops around GSS Ilorin and Water Reservoir opposite Unilorin staff quarters, GRA Ilorin.
Dr. Ahmad represented by his Deputy, Elder Matthew Okedare, said the Legislature which is the mouth piece of the People, would not support any project or policy that would distort the master plan of Ilorin Metropolis but insisted that such should not be done at the detriment of the People of the State.
In their various but passionate submissions, the stakeholders insisted vehemently that the on going shop projects at GSS and GRA Water Reservoir be demolished, as the projects according to them, would be injurious to the inhabitants of Ilorin Metropolis, and destroy the age long aesthetic value of green areas, planted trees, flowers and lawns initiated by successive governments in the State.
The affected stakeholders which included, the state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Ilorin Descendants Progressive Union, the Head of Department of Regional and Urban Development, University of Ilorin, the Chairman of the Unilorin chapter of Academic Staff Union of University, Dr U A Raheem, the old Students of Shiekh Abdulkadir College, Muri Adi Estate and Valuers and the Petitioners GRA Residents Association praised the doggedness of the Legislature, saying that the house had demonstrated through the Public Hearing that governance is by the People and for the People.
Other Stakeholders, especially those from the side of the State government said the Shops may not be injurious, if adequate measures were put in place, by the relevant agencies of government to mitigate against identified disasters, due to the construction of the shops in the affected areas.
The government Stakeholders, which included the state Bureau of Land, the state Town Planning and Development Authority, Ministries of Justice, Water Resources as well as Education and Human Capital Development, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria said the affected areas, prior to the construction of the shops constituted security threat and expressed confidence that the shops would among other things ensure security in the areas, improve the revenue base of the state government, boost commercial activities in the areas, while proceeds from proposed shops along Fate road would be used to provide infrastructure in the School to enhance effective teaching and learning.
Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Adamu Usman had explained that the public hearing was held to seek stakeholders' views on the construction of Shops in the affected areas and assured that their views would be collated and reflected in the Committee's report to guide the entire House in proffering appropriate, realistic and enduring solutions to the problem.
