Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

As part of government’s efforts to improve rural livelihoods and prevent clashes between farmers and herders in Kwara State, no
fewer than 500 livestock farmers in Ifelodun Local Government Area have been trained and empowered in goat fattening and animal feed production.

The step-down training was organised by Ifelodun Local Government in collaboration with the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).

Speaking at the event, the Kwara State Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, stressed the importance of the initiative in addressing challenges faced by rural farmers.

Represented by the State House of Assembly member representing Omupo Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Afolabi Salau, the Deputy Governor opined that the programme would not only reduce conflict but also enhance the farmers’ income and promote self-sufficiency.

He admonished the participants to maximise the opportunity by applying the knowledge from the training to grow their businesses and produce an alternative feed from agricultural waste.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area, Hon. Abdulrasheed Yusuf, highlighted the initiative’s potential to generate employment and reduce the cost of livestock production through local feed production.

He further disclosed that the local government is working with relevant stakeholders to provide essential amenities such as water and other rural development incentives.

In his remarks, the Elese of Igbaja, Oba Ahmed Babalola Awuni Arepo II, who is also the Chairman, traditional council of Ifelodun LGA, commended the organisers for the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful, assuring the stakeholders of the full support of the traditional institution in the State to ensure the success and sustainability of the programme.

In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye, urged the youths in the area to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture to become self-reliant and reduce dependence on white-collar jobs.

He further encouraged the trainees to commit to the programme to acquire the needed skills for personal and community development.

The step-down training, which is an offshoot of the L-PRES’ training on small ruminants production and crops residues processing, is part of a broader effort under the L-PRES programme to boost livestock productivity, reduce conflict, and build resilience in rural communities across the country.

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Says Kwarans fully behind President Tinubu for second term

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has inspected the 49-kilometre Eiyenkorin–Afon– Ojoku–Offa–Odo-Otin road project under construction, commending the pace and quality of work done.

The concrete road is one of the four major roads being funded in Kwara State under the federal tax credit scheme at the instance of the BUA conglomerate.

The Governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the continuous execution of the tax credit projects and for his many other supports for the State.

“We are inspecting the ongoing federal and state road projects. This is Ilorin/Offa new road, and you can see how solid it is. We have to thank President Bola Tinubu for this road project. It is a major achievement as you can see,” he told reporters after inspecting the road project.

“The project will shorten travel time between Ilorin, Offa and adjoining communities. When the road is completed, the travel time to Offa from Ilorin will be 30 minutes. This is a good investment and another product of the Renewed Hope Agenda. It shows that the policies are working. There is more money for infrastructure, and people can see that even within the state. We do appreciate the President.”

The Governor was accompanied on the tour by the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah, and Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja.

He received short briefing from the site engineer, Abdulsalam Onaolapo, who said they are working round the clock to deliver the project on schedule.

“Who will say ‘no to President Tinubu’ after seeing all these investments done at the state and elsewhere?,” the Governor asked, adding that the people of Kwara State are fully behind the President to have another term post 2027 for his developmental agenda to run full circle.

He said the reforms are working and the effects are steadily trickling down through infrastructure spending, social protection programmes, and continuous efforts to strengthen security.

AbdulRazaq hailed the handling contractor, BUA Group, for the good job on the road projects in the State.

“The quality of job being done by BUA is first class. They are also working at Bode Sadu–Kaiama–
Kosubosu road project. We’ve been there as well. The quality of work there is also good. As you can see, this is the rainy season and the construction work is still ongoing. I say well done to BUA,” he said.

The Governor also inspected the ongoing renovation of the Primary Healthcare Centre in Okesho, Asa local government of the state.

He had earlier
paid condolence visits to the families of Daudu Ballah, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kawu Yahya , who died last Friday.

He also attended the Fidau prayer for the former Accountant General of the State, Alhaji Suleiman Bayero.

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

In a bid to clear the society of miscreants and enhance security of the citizenry, Kwara State Government has evacuated no fewer than 94 beggars from the streets of Ilorin, the state capital, saying those arrested would be prosecuted and eventually repatriated to their various States after proper profiling.

The evacuation and planned repatriation of the street beggars, including 43 females and 51 males, was coordinated by the State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima Imam.

The exercise also involved the Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Mikail Aileru, officers of the National Correctional Service in the State as well as officials of the Ministry, taking them to popular locations such as Geri Alimi, Tanke Junction, Offa Garage, Tipper Garage and Sango, among others.

Speaking with journalists during the exercise, Commissioner for Social Welfare and Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima Imam, said the state government had done two repatriation exercises of street beggars before now, adding that street begging is not allowed in Kwara State.

“We are actually evacuating and repatriating the street beggars. The reason is that we’ve made a lot of jingles before now to sensitise the public and make sure that they are well informed that street begging is a no-no in Kwara State. And we’ve done about two repatriations before now where we evacuated the streets beggars.

“And one thing we do is that we have the Ministry Magistrate where they are served sentences for at least one week, depending on the kind of punishment that is stipulated. For the children, we make sure that we take care of them till the period when the parents finish their terms of community service activities. We are in collaboration with the correctional centre and they’ve been doing a lovely job for us. We sincerely appreciate them.

“We sincerely appreciate the administration of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his effort to make sure that Kwara State is free of street begging and street hawking and other social menace that is around us,” she said.

Imam said that the Kwara state government was always in touch with the state governments of the street beggars before they were returned to their respective states.

She admonished members of the public, who she said patronise the street beggars to desist, saying that: “You know, people want to give alms. So, if you want to give alms, there are better ways to give alms. Go to mosques or churches, go to the orphanage homes, go to centres where people truly need assistance. Stop patronising beggars.

“We want to urge the public to please refrain from patronising the beggars. It’s a menace in the society.”

Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse, Prevention and Control, Haliru Olamilekan Mikail, lamented that most of the people that portray themselves as beggars peddle drugs.

“This exercise is not just about street begging alone. It’s about the security of our people. Some of the people are informants. These days, we talk about kidnapping and all that. They are not just there to beg for money.

“Do you know that some people brought them there to work for them? So this is why, as much as we are clamping down on street begging, we are making sure that our society is safe.

“We’ve done the advocacy on radio. There are a lot of information on radio and on the social media. It’s a continuous process.”

For his part, Head of Non-Custodian Unit, Nigeria Correctional Service, Kwara State Command, Mr. Adebayo Okunola, explained that the exercise is to clean the state of social menace while those arrested and tried by the appropriate court will be punished in line with the Correctional Act 2019.

“We have Correctional Act 2019 which empowered us that offences which are not criminal in nature are sentenced to non correctional service.

“The head of the Correctional Service Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche has mandated us to collaborate with the Kwara State Government to ensure that those arrested and tried by appropriate court are sentenced to non custodian unit. Then, we will ensure that they undergo punitive measures like sweeping gutters,” Okunola added.

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