Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the commencement of construction work on the Oko-Olowo Bridge.
The absence of the bridge at the Oko-Olowo axis of Ilorin has reportedly resulted in several deaths, with properties worth millions of naira also said to have been destroyed in road crashes in the area in recent times.
Several accidents have been recorded along the axis, with over speeding and disregard for traffic regulations identified among the factors contributing to the frequent crashes in the area.
In a statement issued by Governor AbdulRazaq on Thursday, he said the commencement of the project demonstrated President Tinubu’s concern for the people of Kwara State and his commitment to safeguarding public welfare.
AbdulRazaq said, “Our advocacy on this bridge began since 2019. We again renewed this advocacy as the President settled down in the office in 2023.
“I recall visiting the Hon. Minister HE David Umahi in 2024 in company of His Excellency Governor of Kogi State Ahmed Usman Ododo, Hon. Mukhtar Shagaya and Hon. Ahmed Yinka Aluko to further press for urgent construction of the bridge as well as Ilorin-Lokoja Road via Omu Aran.
“In a visit to the state in October 2025, the Hon. Minister assured us that work will soon begin on the bridge”.
The governor added: “So what is happening today is a dream come true and promise kept by the president and minister.
“We are grateful and we see this as an intentional effort to protect lives and property.
“It is a relief to tens of thousands of our people who live in that axis or travel along that road every other day.
“We are also confident that the Hon. Minister will graciously expedite action on our other requests, including the Ilorin-Lokoja via Omu Aran, for the good of our people.
“This Oko Olowo project is one of the many other dividends of democracy that our people have en-joyed, and it is another reason that the people of our state will vote massively for the President and all APC candidates in the coming election.”
