AbdulRazaq Meets Ifelodun Leaders, Pledges Security and Development Push

AbdulRazaq Meets Ifelodun Leaders, Pledges Security and Development Push

By Abiola Adigun

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday met with stakeholders from Ifelodun Local Government Area, reassuring them of his administration’s commitment to deepening infrastructural development and strengthening security architecture across the state.
The meeting, held at the Government House Ilorin, brought together traditional rulers, political leaders, clerics, youth representatives, and community elders led by the council chairman, Haji Femi Yusuf.
Governor AbdulRazaq said his administration has been working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and security agencies to tackle emerging threats, particularly in Ifelodun, Patigi, and Edu local governments.
“I assure you of our efforts to eliminate the threats. As we work together to make our communities safer, I want to advise that investments may be affected if we don’t strike a balance in how we project our communities to the outside world,” AbdulRazaq said.
The Governor listed several ongoing and planned projects in Ifelodun, including:
Ajase-Ipo–Oke Ode–Sagbe road
Alabe–Oreke road
Oro Ago road
Ora township road (to be reawarded)
Orisa bridge and Akamo bridge
Spot rehabilitation of the Share–Babanla road
He also commended the Igbaja community for establishing an ICT Centre, describing such grassroots-led initiatives as complementary to government efforts.
Stakeholders hailed the Governor’s proactive approach. Haji Femi Yusuf, council chairman, noted the collaboration with the NSA’s office in dismantling criminal networks.
“Your commitment to development in our local government is evident in many state-driven projects currently ongoing, particularly the Ajase to Sagbe road project and other strategic interventions that have boosted public confidence in your administration and in the APC,” he said.
Former House of Representatives member, Alhaji Kola Yusuf, added that while the government had succeeded in pushing back criminal gangs, there was need to go after their backers.
“After chasing these criminals away, we need to also get their promoters and informants,” he urged.
Elder Oyin Zubair called for relief measures for victims of recent security incidents, while expressing optimism that the security reinforcements would restore lasting peace.
The Governor’s meeting comes against the backdrop of recent security concerns in parts of Kwara North, particularly along riverine communities where banditry and kidnapping had threatened farming and trading activities. Analysts say AbdulRazaq’s emphasis on balanced narratives reflects a growing concern that negative portrayals of rural insecurity could undermine investment prospects in agriculture and rural industries.
Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, a development analyst at the University of Ilorin, explained that community engagement is crucial in sustaining security gains.
“When governors sit with stakeholders like this, it builds trust. But beyond rhetoric, what will matter is rapid delivery of the promised road and bridge projects because infrastructure is directly linked to both security and economic stability,” she said.
Governor AbdulRazaq urged the stakeholders to sustain constructive engagement with his administration, stressing that partnerships between government and communities were essential for lasting progress.
As the meeting ended, the mood among the Ifelodun leaders reflected cautious optimism—gratitude for ongoing projects, coupled with an appeal for vigilance and deeper social support to victims of insecurity.