By Abdullateef Ishowo
As political tensions continue to shape the landscape in Kwara State, Senator Saliu Mustapha, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development, has remained focused on delivering tangible results through two landmark interventions announced within days of each other.
The presidential approval of the Oko-Olowo Junction Flyover in Ilorin and the launch of a ₦1.5 billion agricultural inputs programme for smallholder farmers across Kwara Central address two critical priorities: improved mobility and enhanced food security.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the Oko-Olowo Flyover marks a significant milestone for a project long considered overdue. The junction, one of Ilorin’s most accident-prone and congested intersections, has claimed numerous lives over the years. The approval is expected to significantly improve road safety and protect commuters.
The project follows a motion moved by Senator Mustapha on the floor of the Senate on November 26, 2024, and months of sustained engagement with the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and the Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo.
When completed, the flyover is expected to reduce accidents, eliminate persistent traffic congestion, and improve the movement of people, goods, and services across Ilorin and surrounding communities. Beyond easing transportation, the project is projected to stimulate economic activities and support long-term development across the state.
In another major intervention, Senator Mustapha flagged off the sixth phase of his agricultural support programme with the distribution of ₦1.5 billion worth of farming inputs and equipment to smallholder farmers.
The package includes 5,000 bags of NPK fertiliser, 2,500 bags of urea, 1,000 knapsack sprayers, 250 power tillers, and 500 water pump machines.
Beneficiaries include members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), the Kwara State Association of Fish Farmers, AMANA Farmers Association, Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progress (NAWIA), the Agricultural Desk of the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, independent farmers, and APC members engaged in farming.
Representing the Senator at the event, the Director-General of his Constituency Office, Alhaji Adebayo Ambali, said the intervention was carefully designed to coincide with the farming season in order to maximise productivity.
“This initiative aligns directly with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to achieve national food security through increased agricultural productivity,” Ambali said.
He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs to maximise yields during the current farming season, while reaffirming Senator Mustapha’s commitment to sustained, evidence-driven interventions aimed at improving rural livelihoods and strengthening food production.
Stakeholders in the agricultural sector commended the initiative. The Chairman of AFAN in Kwara State, Engr. Shuaibu Ajibola Salman, described the distribution as “timely, strategic, and appropriate in scale,” while the Chairman of RIFAN in the state, Mallam Soliu Mohammed, noted that the Senator’s “consistent inclusion of rice farmers reflects a deliberate agricultural policy rather than a one-off gesture.”
At a time when political activities are increasingly dominated by intra-party competition, Senator Mustapha appears determined to prioritise governance over political distractions. His approach underscores a commitment to ensuring that infrastructure projects move forward, farmers receive the support they need, and the state’s development agenda remains on course.
With the approval of the Oko-Olowo Flyover secured and thousands of farmers equipped for the planting season, attention now turns from promises to measurable outcomes.
Abdullateef Ishowo is the Director of Media and Strategic Communication to Senator Saliu Mustapha.
