Sand Mining, Waste Disposal, Tree Felling Threat to Ilorin Smart City, Urban Renewal – UN Expert
An environment expert and staff of the United Nations Office in Ghana, Mallam Musa Salahudeen, has warned that unchecked environmental abuses such as sand mining, tree felling, and indiscriminate refuse dumping are posing serious threats to the Ilorin Smart City Project and broader urban renewal efforts in Kwara State. He made the call in Ilorin […]
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An environment expert and staff of the United Nations Office in Ghana, Mallam Musa Salahudeen, has warned that unchecked environmental abuses such as sand mining, tree felling, and indiscriminate refuse dumping are posing serious threats to the Ilorin Smart City Project and broader urban renewal efforts in Kwara State.
He made the call in Ilorin as a guest speaker at the 58th anniversary of the Old Students Association of Government High School, Adeta, Ilorin.
The programme, themed “Sustainability and Future Generations: Moral Responsibility of the Present Generation in Nigeria,” was also to commemorate the 4th memorial lecture and prayer in honour of the founder of the school and father of the governor, late Alhaji AGF AbdulRazaq (SAN).
The Ilorin Smart City Project, unveiled in 2024, is one of the most ambitious urban development initiatives in the country.
Covering 20,000 hectares, the project integrates environmental consciousness with technological innovation.
It includes 15 percent dedicated green space, a solar energy park, smart waste management systems, and a modern transportation network.
However, Salahudeen, an alumnus of the school, said these forward-looking plans risk being undermined by destructive human activities that continue to degrade the environment in and around Ilorin.
He stressed that unless urgent steps are taken, the city’s dream of becoming a future-ready, climate-resilient hub may be derailed.
“The Smart City initiative is a bold step forward. But it must be protected. Practices like uncontrolled sand extraction, illegal construction, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse are gradually eating away at the foundation of that vision,” he said.
He called on the federal government to strengthen regulatory agencies such as the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, as well as relevant state-level institutions, to tackle these challenges head-on.
Salahudeen also urged state governments to tighten enforcement of urban planning and environmental protection laws.
“The challenge is not policy absence but policy enforcement. Agencies must be empowered with the legal and operational capacity to act swiftly against violators,” he added.
According to him, the success of Ilorin’s Smart City Project depends not just on the technology and infrastructure being introduced, but on the sustainability of the environment in which it operates.
He noted that the African Development Bank has supported similar smart city initiatives across the continent through its Urban and Municipal Development Fund, and stressed that Ilorin must follow global best practices in climate-conscious urban planning.
“The city must ensure that green infrastructure is preserved and expanded. Without this, the promise of a smart and livable future may remain on paper,” he warned.
Salahudeen emphasized that the current generation has a moral duty to act decisively.
“This is not just about today. It is about the Nigeria we leave behind for our children. Sustainability must become a shared national ethic,” he said.
Outgoing president of the current executive of the school’s Old Students Association, Alhaji Raji Atolagbe Mohammed, in his remarks said that the successful hosting of the event largely attested to the undeniable achievements of the executive.
He noted that though his executive was able to support the school infrastructurally, through training and retraining of teachers and mentorship of the students, the incoming executive should consolidate on the achievements in the above-listed areas and even do more.
“We might not be where we planned to be, but we have done incredibly well. For instance, the hall behind where we are is much bigger but has been abandoned. They can find means to make the place usable, among several other things they can do,” he added.
The former commissioner in the state also noted that the heated contests among members for offices confirmed his executive’s good performance, having made the offices attractive.