The Kwara State Government has given an assurance to the people that it will continue to upgrade deplorable federal roads in the state to enhance economic activities.
The state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr. Abubakar Amuda Kannike, gave the assurance at the formal handover of the reconstructed Ohan Bailey Bridge along Ilorin-Igbeti Road to the state government by the Nigerian Army.
Kannike said the bridge constructed 40 years ago by the Nigerian Army Engineers collapsed in 2009, which caused untold hardship to thousands of people who ply the road daily.
The bridge, which links Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, with the Northern part of Oyo North was reconstructed with about N42.5 million.
The state government commended the engineers of the Nigerian Army for the prompt completion of the project.
Kannike said the state government was also working on some federal roads, including Chikanda-Kosubosu-Okuta-Ilesha Baruba to Oyo State border Road, Patigi-Kpada Road, the damaged portion between Eiyenkorin-Oko Olowo Road, which cut off the federal road, and the dualisation of some federal roads leading to Ilorin.
He appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade other federal roads in the state.
The Commander, 22nd Armound Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Brig. Gen. S.B Bello, who said the reconstruction of the bridge was completed within the 11 weeks time line, described the exercise as the new trend in civil/military relationship initiated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. O.A. Ihejirika.