Kwara State Executive Council has approved the construction of a three phase Diamond Split Underpass at the Gerin Alimi roundabout in Ilorin, the State Capital as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion in the area.

Briefing journalists after the State Executive Council Meeting, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Aro Yahaya said the project is expected to be completed in 18 months.

Alhaji Aro said the first phase of the project will cost N2.9billion, adding that the funding of the Under-Pass Project would be financed from the N10bn the state government is sourcing from the Bond Market.

The Commissioner noted that the project when completed would not only ease traffic on the road but add to the aesthetic of the area as it is expected to be an engineering masterpiece and architecture.

He said the council also approved the dualisation of other federal roads in the state such as Kulende-Oyun-Kwara State Polytechnic-Oke-Ose-UITH road and the Ita Alamu-Michael Imoudu-Ganmo-Afon junction road.

He explained that although the roads are federal government roads, “but in line with our policy to develop road infrastructure in the state in order to reduce the pains and stress of our people the state government resolved to embark on developing the roads, awaiting federal government reimbursement”.

Also speaking at the briefing, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Alhaji Mahmoud Ajeigbe said council has approved the Contributory Pension Scheme for Civil Servants who joined the Civil Service from 1987 to date while those employed before the date would remain under the current scheme.

Alhaji Mahmud explained that the approval was sequel to the realization that the revenue base of the state could no longer sustain the old pension scheme.

The Senior Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Dr Muideen Akorede said the council considered the Draft White Paper and Administrative Panel of Enquiry with the reports on Share/Tsaragi communal clashes last year.

According to Dr Akorede, the state government has resolved to render assistance to victims of the crises from both communities with a view to dousing tension between the two neighbouring communities and prevent a reoccurrence of hostilities in the area.