The people of Owa-Onire community in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State have appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to include their road that links the popular Owu Water Falls among those approved for construction in Kwara South.
They said the 12-kilometre road is mostly used by visitors to Owu Water Falls.
Some concerned indigenes of Owa- Onire made the appeal when they visited LEADERSHIP’s office in Ilorin, the state capital.
They were led to LEADERSHIP’s office by their coordinator, Mr Debola Ogunbiyi and spokesman, Mr Sunday Akanbi.
“We are appealing to Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq to revisit the issue of Owu-Falls road construction project by awarding the construction and completion of the 12km Oba-Isin – Owa-Onire – Owu-Falls road to a contractor that will ensure its completion with fiat to avoid a repeat of the abandonment it suffered during the former governor Bukola Saraki’s administration.
“ It is pertinent to let His Excellency and the whole world know that, in 2008, the Kwara State government under the leadership of former governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, awarded the construction of the 15km Owu-Falls road project from Iwo/Sabaja-Isin – Oba-Isin – Owa-Onire – Owu-Falls to Bulletine Construction Company Nig. Ltd. Unfortunately, only 3km out of the 15km road stretch, representing only 20%, from Iwo/Sabaja Isin to Oba-Isin was tarred while the remaining 12km from Oba-Isin – Owa-Onire – Owu Falls was only opened up to the foot of the Water Falls and eventually abandoned since 2010 after millions of naira of the state’s scarce resources had been committed to the project.
“Owa-Onire community has since then been maintaining the remaining 12km road already opened up by the contractor and the resultant effect of our effort has thus promoted the current increase in accessibility of tourists from far and near to Owu-Falls with minimum or less stress through the 12km Owa-Onire road,” they said .
The community representatives explained that:” This 12km road from Owa-Onire leads right to the foot of the Falls. Not less than 10 communities along this 12km linear road will have it pass through them and benefit directly; Ijara-Isin, Iji-Isin, Owu-Isin, Sabaja-Isin, Oba-Isin, Owa-Onire or serve indirectly Iwo-Isin, Kudu Owode, Pamo-Isin, Odo-Ore, and could prompt a swift growth in their social-economic development.
“The geophysical nature of the 12km Oba-Isin – Owa-Onire – Owu-Falls Road makes it less hilly thereby making its construction less laborious. More glaring is the fact that the 12km Oba-Isin-Owa-Onire- Owu-Falls road has been in use and is currently still in use by tourists to visit the Great Waterfalls.
“It may sound interesting to note that the 12km Oba-Isin- Owa-Onire-Owu-Falls Road is already generating a sizable amount of revenue into the government’s coffer, a fact that is verifiable from the KWIRS and Kwara State Tourism Board. “
LEADERSHIP reports that the state executive council (SEC), had last week approved new multi-billion naira roads constructions across the three senatorial districts of the state.
