LOCAL CONTENT AND PROCUREMENT IN KWARA: A TEST OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVENESS
Empowering our own is not an act of favoritism – it is the foundation of genuine development.”— Prof. Ali Ahmad
When Prof. Ali Ahmad, former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, raised concerns about the exclusion of local contractors from public procurement in Kwara, it was not an attack—it was a patriotic call to realign the state’s development agenda with the principles of fairness and inclusion.
As Speaker of the 8th Assembly, Prof. Ahmad led the passage of the Kwara State Public Procurement Law in 2018. That law was created to promote transparency, economic empowerment, and most importantly, local content. It was designed to give qualified indigenous contractors a fair chance to participate in government contracts—ensuring that public funds serve to grow the local economy, create jobs, and build community wealth.
Recent patterns suggest a deviation from that vision. The growing marginalization of competent local contractors undermines not just the letter but the spirit of the 2018 law. It slows job creation, limits opportunities for local businesses, and contradicts the idea of sustainable, inclusive development.
Prof. Ahmad’s remarks were a timely reminder—not criticism. As someone who helped build the very legal framework now being ignored, his position should be seen as a constructive intervention. The silence of the government in the face of these issues raises concern, especially when what is being asked is simple: a return to compliance with a law passed to benefit Kwarans.
The Ali Ahmad Project 2027, speaking on behalf of concerned citizens, now poses a direct question to the state government: How have you responded to this intervention? What specific steps have been taken to realign procurement practices with the 2018 law? Are local contractors now being fairly considered?
This is not about politics. It is about economic justice, institutional respect, and empowering our people. The former Speaker has done his part by drawing attention to this issue. The government must now show that it listens—not just to critics, but to laws, principles, and the people they are meant to protect.
Let Kwarans see their own benefit from the wealth of their state.
Signed:
Ayinde Sa’ad
For: Ali Ahmad Media Team