Two months after Ilorin Emir’s letter, Kwara govt yet to approve Sulu-Gambari Pavilion
Project funding expires soon: Saliu’s aide
They don’t have complete document: Kwara govt
Two months after the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, formally sought approval from the Kwara State Government for the construction of a contentious ultra-modern pavilion bearing his name, the state government is yet to approve his applications, The Informant247 can report.
The proposed structure, which has been at the centre of controversy, was facilitated by Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
According to the senator’s executive aide, Barrister Abdulkareem Alabi, the Emir submitted a formal letter to the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) on March 3, 2025, seeking official consent for the project.
Mr. Alabi disclosed this on Wednesday during a live broadcast of Oro Ilu, a flagship current affairs program aired on Sobi FM in Ilorin.
“His Royal Highness personally forwarded the request alongside the architectural design over two months ago, but there has been no formal response from the relevant government agency,” Mr. Alabi added.
He clarified that the motivation behind the pavilion is to provide a permanent alternative to the recurring use of rented tents during the annual Ilorin Durbar festival.
He noted that the initiative is intended to enhance the cultural and architectural landscape of the Emir’s palace, not to advance any political interest.
The senator’s aide also stated that the project was included in the 2024 federal budget—not the speculated 2025 budget—through the efforts of Senator Mustapha, and emphasized that it is entirely community-focused.
He added that the state risks losing the project, as the funds could be forfeited in line with the provisions of Section 29(1) and Section 38(a) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, which mandate that all unspent budgetary allocations be returned to the Consolidated Revenue Fund by the end of the fiscal year and also bar the rollover of unused capital.
He further explained that the proposed location of the pavilion sits on land historically tied to Sheikh Solihu Alimi—the progenitor of the Ilorin Emirate—and is therefore under the jurisdiction of the Emirate Council.
The project’s suspension by KW-GIS had earlier generated quiet tension among stakeholders. While the government argued procedural irregularities, the senator’s supporters described it as politically motivated.
We don’t have all their documents – Kwara govt
When Informant247 reached out for comment, the KW-GIS Executive Chairman, ESV AbdulKareem Babatunde Suleyman, confirmed that the request letter had been submitted and is currently being processed.
When further questioned about why the project approval is taking so long, the chairman told The Informant247 that the agency does not yet have all the necessary documents to conclude the request process.
Background
Earlier in February, The Informant247 reported that officials of the Kwara State Town Planning and Development Authority, accompanied by security personnel, ordered the stoppage of the ongoing construction of the Sulu-Gambari Pavilion.
The Kwara State Geographical Information Service (KWGIS) had explained that it stopped the project because the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had not sought or secured any approval for the ongoing construction of the Sulu-Gambari Pavilion.
The senator who facilitated the project had subsequently advised the contractor to correct the oversight and apply for necessary permit, ensuring that the work complies with the relevant governmental authorities’ directives.
The Emir of Ilorin, as the custodian of the said land, thereafter wrote to the government seeking approval for the project.
