Kwara and the legacies of the Roadmaster, By Yushau A. Shuaib

During my recent trip to Ilorin, after an absence of six months, I was struck by the visible transformation of the city. The expansive roadwork, featuring upgrades to existing routes and the construction of new ones, offers compelling evidence of positive change…

Before anyone critiques my choice of words, let me clarify what I mean by “Roadmaster.” This term can refer to various roles — from the official responsible for maintaining railroads to a public overseer of road repairs, and even a well-known bicycle brand famed for its versatility. In the context of road construction and maintenance, it fittingly describes someone who excels in enhancing infrastructure, making it an apt moniker for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State.

While ‘Roadmaster’ may also refer to a specialised machine in the road construction industry used to remedy potholes and other road defects through a cost-effective and environmentally friendly spray injection method, it…