The Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KWGIS) has issued a detailed public clarification regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding a proposed pavilion project, which was halted earlier this year due to lack of statutory approval. The agency, in a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, ESV. Abdulkareem Babatunde Sulyman, said the project was stopped immediately upon discovery of unauthorized construction activities.
According to Sulyman, the contractor commenced work on the pavilion without seeking or securing the necessary approvals from the state agency, an act the KWGIS deemed a serious violation of building regulations.
“Let it be made categorically clear that no approval was ever sought, and none was given before construction began on the site,” he stated. “What happened was a blatant disregard for the law, and such infractions attract a 200% penalty under our regulations.”
The Executive Chairman explained that the Service halted the construction on February 7, 2025, just a day after it began. He emphasized that KWGIS maintains a zero-tolerance stance on illegal development, irrespective of the project’s source or purported sponsorship.
KWGIS acknowledged that it did receive an initial cover letter from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, accompanied by a document from the Ilorin Emirates Council, confirming the pavilion as a constituency project. However, Sulyman clarified that the submission was incomplete and failed to meet the agency’s requirements for statutory approval.
“While we recognize that this is a federal constituency project, it must still comply with state planning laws. The only document received was insufficient, and we immediately reached out to the Federal Ministry on March 12, 2025, requesting the full set of technical and environmental documents needed to process any approval,” Sulyman explained.
According to the statement, KWGIS requested a range of essential documents, including:
• Detailed survey and location plans
• Block and site analysis plans
• Parking, drainage, sewage, and fire safety plans
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Soil and geophysical test reports
• Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) drawings
The Federal Ministry acknowledged receipt of the letter on April 7, 2025, but as of May 8, no further documents have been submitted.
“We are still waiting for the required documentation. Without these, the Service is not empowered by law to proceed with any form of statutory approval,” Sulyman added. “Issuing approvals without due diligence could jeopardize lives, properties, and the integrity of the state’s urban development efforts.”
He emphasized that the agency is committed to upholding professional standards and lawful processes, regardless of the project’s affiliation.
“The law must be followed by all, whether private citizens or government agencies. Our duty is to ensure that development in Kwara State is safe, sustainable, and lawful,” Sulyman concluded.
The KWGIS’s firm stance underscores the growing emphasis on regulatory compliance in state-level urban planning, even for federally funded projects, as Kwara seeks to balance development with due process and public safety.
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