Beyond The Facade: What are the Economic Impacts of Abdulrahman's Flashy Capital Projects?
By Sulaiman Onimago
Yesterday, while reading messages on a popular WhatsalApp group, I stumbled on a recorded radio programme that featured Mr. Shola Muse and Comrade Bolakale. On the radio show, they discussed Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq's socio-economic projects over the last five years. As I listened to the audio and read through the claims, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of skepticism. Are we really seeing the results the state deserves or are we just clapping for a show with no substance? Let’s unpack this.
Governor Abdulrahman and his team have often boasted of his capital projects, from roads to flashy hubs, but here’s the burning question: what is the economic impact of these projects? For capital projects to be more than mere PR stunts, they must expand the economy and increase productivity. Yet, businesses in Kwara seem to be gasping for air. If the economy isn't growing alongside these projects, then what’s their purpose? Where’s the growth in job opportunities or small business profitability?
Capital projects should do more than beautify our cities, they should be revenue generators. For instance, we’ve heard about the garment factory, visual arts hub, sugar film factory and innovation hub. Yet, nobody is talking about their return on investment (ROI). Are they generating revenue for the state? Are they creating jobs and increasing productivity? Are they attracting investors? Or they are simply costly experiments with no clear roadmap?
And let’s not forget the Kwara Hotel renovation that's gulping N17.8billion of state's resources. What’s happening there? After so much noise, the place still lacks significant progress. Is this another money pit?
Speaking of productivity, what’s with these tall fences being erected everywhere in the metropolis? If they were meant to block insecurity, they’re ironically achieving the opposite. Criminals now have ready-made hideouts to perpetrate crimes, turning public spaces into blind spots. It feels like we’re solving problems by creating new ones.
Even more troubling is the governor’s apparent hostility toward small businesses. Instead of promoting an environment where businesses thrive, his policies in place seem designed to stifle them. High taxes and restrictive measures have turned entrepreneurs into mere survivors. Allow business owners to breathe! Taxation should be fair and law-based, not suffocating. When people see tangible, positive results from their taxes such as good roads, healthcare and education, they’ll gladly pay. But who wants to pay when the money seems to vanish into unaccountable projects?
Then there’s another big question raised on the radio programme that I’d like to butress: are Governor AA’s policies sustainable? What’s the long-term plan here? The legacy of a great administration isn’t in the flashy structures built but in systems and policies that future administrations can build upon. Are the projects being pursued now sustainable for the next administration? Or are they vanity ventures doomed to fall apart as soon as his tenure ends?
Policies must have continuity. They should be designed with a business model that ensures longevity. Without this, we risk having a state full of ghost projects, empty structures with no utility and that’s a burden, not a legacy.
The Way Forward?
I have some recommendations for His Excellency and his team:
1. Create policies that encourage businesses to grow, not fences that block them and ultimately ruin their businesses. Reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, and offer incentives for startups and investors.
2. Publish reports on the returns of these capital projects. If the garment factory, sugar film factory, and others are truly working, let’s see the numbers.
3. A fair tax regime that ensures transparency and reinvests revenue in visible development is essential. Let taxpayers see the results of their contributions.
4. Invest in intelligent security systems, not just physical barriers. Tall fences won’t solve insecurity if there’s no strategic plan behind them.
5. Ensure that every policy and project is built to last and can be continued by successive administrations. Let’s leave a legacy of progress, not abandoned structures.
Your Excellency might have your fans, but governance is about results, not applause. Kwara deserves more than hollow investments. It’s time to focus on what truly matters: sustainable growth, economic expansion and the empowerment of the people. May Kwara Succeed!
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