Land Encroachment: Gov AbdulRazaq Directs Immediate Fencing of Kwara Poly

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Worried by the activities of land encroachers and grabbers at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved and directed immediate fencing of the polytechnic with immediate effect.

The approval and directive by the governor became imperative so as to check the activities of land encroachers and grabbers targeting the institution.

The institution had been facing the menace of land grabbers and encroachers with has led to the selling off of the installations land to some members of the public without legal documentations.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Abdul Jimoh, disclosed this in Ilorin on Monday while speaking at a media parley themed “The new Kwara in Kwara Poly,” jointly organised by the Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies and Information and Publications Division of the institution.

He said, “Kwara governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved and directed the immediate fencing of the over 40-year-old school with immediate effect”.

Dr. Jimoh however, added that the governor urged him and the management team to apply caution when carrying out the exercise.

According to him, the governor was concerned about the lives and general security of the students in giving the approval to fence the school.

He said: “you all are aware that we are faced with many challenges that include encroachment and land grabbers.

“Now, our governor has given approval for the perimeter fencing of the school, this is the most recent order in Kwara Poly.

“He has given orders to carry it out but added that no (encroacher’s) building must be demolished till we hear from him again.

“He also asked us to get back to him should we see any disturber in the course of the exercise. The fencing is important to protect the students,” he stated.

The chairman of the occasion, Ghali Alaya, urged the students to make genuine and enviable names for themselves for the sake of their parents who have sacrificed a lot for their excellence, urging: “It is what you take out of this school that matters and remain with you for survival.”

The Senior Adviser and Counselor to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Mallam Saadu Salahu, hinted that the governor has transformed the school from a state of critical decay to a model of sustainable institutional investment and digital readiness, to fulfill the original mandate of its founding fathers.

He disclosed that the governor recognizes the importance of educational development as the most consequential investment outcome for a state’s sustainable economic future.

“This led to a complete systemic overhaul over the past seven years as manifest in Fiscal Responsibility and Welfare as well as its consistent funding.

“Unlike the recent past, the administration ensures teachers and non-academic staff’s salaries across all tiers are paid as at when due,” he said.

He added that there has been motivation and capacity building, saying there is: “Unprecedented prioritization of staff training, promotion, and welfare packages to reverse the brain drain and restore morale.”