Kwara government seizes Saraki’s land.. to use it as a new secretariat

The Kwara State Government has taken over a piece of land owned by the Saraki Family in Ilorin. It will be used for a new secretariat for civil servants.

Chief Press Secretary to Kwara Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye announced the decision Friday.

Ajakaiye said the land was originally meant for Government Secretariat and parking space of the Civil Service Clinic, but was unlawfully allocated to a private firm, Asa Investments Limited, without any record of payment to the state government.

Part of the land, situated beside the Civil Service Clinic, is also right in front of late Dr Olusola Saraki’s residence.

The senior Saraki built a house and named it ‘Ile Arugbo’ (elderly peoples’ home).

According to the statement, no certificate of occupancy was issued in favour of Asa Investments Limited.

The statement explained that the government has now made provisions for the secretariat in the 2020 budget, although its construction will spill over to 2021.

“Hundreds of civil servants still operate from rented apartments at a huge cost to the government.

“The new secretariat, once completed in 2021, will definitely go a long way to end this unhealthy trend as well as provide a more conducive and decent working environment for government workers,” the statement added.