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By Muinat Usman
The Chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulraheem Yusuf, has called on the Federal Government to consider creating an additional local government area from the council to enhance effective administration and accelerate grassroots development.
Alhaji Yusuf made the call at the 49th Media Parliament organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kwara State Council, at the NUJ Press Centre, Offa Road, Ilorin.
He said Ifelodun has the highest number of districts in the state and covers a vast landmass, making the creation of another local government area necessary to bring governance closer to the people.
The chairman said the implementation of local government autonomy had enabled the council to extend the dividends of democracy to rural communities by giving greater attention to their needs.
He disclosed that the council was also making efforts to attract serious-minded investors to the area, particularly to utilise its vast expanse of unused land for economic development and employment generation.
Alhaji Yusuf said security remained a major priority of his administration, noting that safety had returned to Babanla, Babasango, Alabe, Oreke and other communities following joint interventions by the Federal, State and Local Governments.
He attributed the improved security situation to the concerted efforts of the three tiers of government, while alleging that some of the attacks in the affected communities were facilitated by informants familiar with the terrain.
The chairman urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies to prevent a resurgence of attacks.
He commended the Kwara State Government and the Federal Government for interventions aimed at protecting lives and property and restoring peace to affected communities.
Alhaji Yusuf also urged the media to exercise caution in reporting security-related incidents, warning against sensationalising such reports as criminal elements also have access to social media platforms.
In his opening address, the NUJ Chairman, Kwara State Council, Mallam Abdul-Lateef Ahmed, described the theme of the Media Parliament as timely, given the strategic role of local governments in grassroots administration.
He said the forum provided an opportunity for the council chairman to share his experiences, achievements, challenges and prospects in administering Ifelodun Local Government over the past two years.
The Media Parliament was held under the theme, “Grassroots Governance: Reasserting Local Government Administration in Kwara.”
Editing: Abdullah Ahmed
