Kwara Grants Temporary Opening of Flyover for UNILORIN Convocation

The Babatunde Idiagbon Flyover Bridge at Tanke will be open for use from Monday, October 16th, and closed again on Tuesday, October 24 ahead of the convocation of the University of Ilorin, the Kwara State Ministry of Works and Transport said in a statement on Saturday.

Members of the public are to note, however, that only the section from Tanke junction down to the university gate will be accessible.

“This is for the safety of all as some skeletal construction works are still ongoing amid heavy deployment of traffic officers. The crossing from Area F to the pipeline axis remains shut for now,” the statement read.

The ministry’s supervisory Commissioner, AbdulQuawy Olododo, said in the statement that the temporary opening of the bridge was to allow easy flow of traffic as the state received visitors for the convocation ceremony at the university.

Olododo said traffic officials from Kwara State Traffic Management Authority would be in the area to manage traffic and ensure safety and free flow of movement during the period.

He said: “We implore the general public and other road users to cooperate with the traffic officials stationed in the area. This is to ensure the safety of all as partial work is still ongoing in the intervening period. Full and last-mile work on the project will resume on October 24 after the convocation.

“The ministry, which prioritises safety at all times, assures members of the public, including business concerns in the area, that the finishing touches on the flyover will be concluded very soon. All inconveniences are truly regretted.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, in a reaction, commended the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, over his directive to open the Tanke flyover bridge from Monday, October 16th, 2023, up till 23rd October 2023, for seamless traffic along the university road.

Egbewole, who gave the commendation in a press statement signed by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, noted that the directive was in response to a solicitation letter earlier written to the governor by the institution’s management.

The VC said that the directive would greatly facilitate vehicular movement during the university’s forthcoming convocation ceremonies slated for October 20 – and 23.

Egbewole also expressed gratitude to the governor for his promise to mend the bad portions along the university road up to the institution’s main gate before the scheduled convocation days

The VC pointed out that the promptness with which the governor responded to the university management’s appeal had marked him out as a listening governor.

He then prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to guide and guard the governor.