The Kwara State Government Wednesday disbursed N569 million to landowners and host communities, marking the first phase of compensation for the 19,300 hectares of land acquired for the ambitious Kwara Smart City project.
The Smart City initiative, first unveiled by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq two years ago, is envisioned as a cornerstone of the state’s industrialization and development agenda.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Geographic Information Service, KWGIS, ESV. Sulyman Babatunde Abdulkareem, said the Smart City will transform the state’s economic landscape.
According to him, the initial phase, beginning from the Oke Ose/Alalubosa axis in Ilorin East Local Government, will host major projects such as the Kwara State University of Education, the Renewed Hope Federal Government Mass Housing Scheme, and the relocated GRA Flower Garden.
Abdulkareem thanked host communities for their cooperation and assured them that their heritage would be safeguarded.
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“I urge the affected communities being compensated today to judiciously make use of the funds for the collective good of their people and ensure inclusiveness in the process,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Segun Ogunsola, stressed the importance of the Smart City in meeting the twin challenges of population growth and infrastructure demand.
“This project will be properly planned to include residential, industrial, and recreational zones. Beyond infrastructure, it will create jobs and improve living standards, with host communities positioned as direct beneficiaries,” Ogunsola noted.
Earlier, the Director of Land Service at KWGIS, ESV. Mashood Kayode Hassan, explained that the compensation process was being conducted transparently and in accordance with legal provisions. He acknowledged the cultural significance of the land and assured landowners that their rights and interests were fully recognized.
“The Kwara Smart City project is not just about buildings and roads—it represents sustainable growth, opportunities, and a brighter future for our state,” Hassan added.
The compensation disbursement is seen as a milestone in the implementation of the Kwara Smart City, which the government says will drive socio-economic transformation, attract investment, and improve urban living in the state.
