From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government, has announced the acquisition of 100 motorcycles to enhance public transportation in response to the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
The initiative, aimed at providing relief to the masses, was disclosed on Wednesday by the Commissioner of Works and Transport, AbdulQowiy Olododo, during the quarterly inter-ministerial press briefing at the Ministry of Finance in Ilorin.
Olododo, who was represented by the Director of Civil Engineering, Engr. Akanbi Mashood, emphasised government’s commitment to mitigating the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on residents. “The government is doing everything possible to bring succor to the masses,” he said.
In addition to the 100 motorcycles, Olododo revealed that the state is expecting the delivery of 100 electric motorcycles following the commissioning of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), conversion workshop and gas station.
“Kwara State has been able to commission a CNG conversion workshop and gas station, the first of its kind in the country, in line with the Presidential initiative on CNG to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal. His Excellency, through the Ministry, has procured 100 electric motorcycles, which will be delivered in the coming days,” Olododo added.
He further highlighted that the Ministry has completed 75 road projects across the state, with another 52 ongoing. These projects include rehabilitation, reconstruction, interlocking, and beautification efforts aimed at improving road infrastructure in Kwara.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Environment, Musa Nafiasat Buge, noted the state’s significant progress in waste management, attributing the improvement to the implementation of an 18-point strategy designed to curb indiscriminate refuse disposal.
“We are already noticing the effect of implementing these new strategies. Our road medians are being cleared of refuse, and large waste collection bins that used to cause nuisances have been removed from roundabouts,” she stated.
Buge also disclosed that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), has benefitted from fines imposed on environmental offenders. “No fewer than 100 persons have been fined and arraigned before the Magistrate in the last two months. The sum of fifty thousand naira is now being paid as fines, following a review by the Kwara State House of Assembly,” she revealed. As a result, the state has raked in five million naira (N5m) in revenue from penalties in the past month.
The press briefing, which was anchored by the Commissioner for Communications, Bola Olukoju, was attended by other commissioners and heads of government agencies and parastatals.
