1
0
By Muinat Usman
Residents of Kangile, a fast-growing community in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State, have appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to urgently address the community’s infrastructural challenges, lamenting years of neglect and lack of democratic dividends.
Kangile, which comprises over thirteen settlements, continues to experience steady population growth but with little or no government presence.
Residents say they have been left to provide essential services such as electricity and potable water through self-help efforts.
Speaking with Radio Nigeria – Harmony FM in Ilorin, community leaders expressed frustration over the government’s failure to meet their basic needs.
A resident, Mrs. Esther Adeyemi, who has lived in Kangile for over a decade, described the deplorable state of the roads as a major concern.
She said despite residents fulfilling their civic duties, including tax payments, the area has received no visible support from either the local government or the town planning authorities.
“There’s no construction project going on in the community. Yet, officials from town planning and the local government come to monitor new buildings. The road has remained in a terrible condition for years,” she lamented.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Sheikh Alimi Phase II area, Mr. AbdulRahman Mayaki, said while residents have continued to make personal efforts to improve their environment, major infrastructure such as roads should be the government’s responsibility.
“We’ve tried our best to make life meaningful, but constructing roads is not within our means. It’s the duty of the government to step in,” he stated.
Mr. Mayaki added that an alternative route through the Royal Valley Estate, once used by residents, had been blocked since October 2022, further compounding their hardship.
The Secretary of Temidire Community, Mr. Adeyeba Jibril Soliu, also decried the economic impact of the poor roads.
“We spend a lot of money at the mechanic due to the bad roads. It’s affecting our livelihoods,” he said.
Mr. Soliu added that despite turning out in large numbers during elections, residents feel abandoned by their elected representatives, as the community continues to be denied the dividends of democracy.
Community leaders stressed that grading the roads and constructing proper drainage systems would not only improve mobility but also serve as a vital link to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) axis, enhancing trade and agricultural activities in the area.
They, therefore, appealed to the Kwara State Government to urgently intervene and bring meaningful development to Kangile and its adjoining communities.
Edited by Abdullahi Ahmed
