The Oyo State Government has begun the payment of compensation to property owners affected by the construction of the Senator Rasheed Adewolu Circular Road in Ibadan, with the first batch totaling Two Hundred and Sixty-Four Million Naira (N264m). The distribution of cheques took place on Thursday at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development’s conference room in Agodi, Ibadan.
This compensation follows a comprehensive identification and verification process conducted by the government to assess and value the properties affected along the project’s corridor. The government had previously carried out this exercise to ensure that all property owners were properly identified and documented for compensation purposes.
Hon. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, emphasized that the Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, had allocated the sum of N264 million for the first phase of compensation to the affected landowners. He further explained that the government viewed the compensation process as essential, given the significance of the road project, which is expected to bring substantial value to the state’s infrastructure and economy.
The commissioner also assured that the process of scrutinizing the affected property owners’ claims had been thorough, with both the government and the landowners collaborating to ensure transparency and fairness. He encouraged property owners with valid documentation to visit the Ministry for appropriate compensation.
Hon. Williams added, “The Governor has earmarked the sum of Two Hundred and Sixty-Four Million Naira (N264,000,000) as compensation for the affected claimants in the first batch of this exercise.”
One of the recipients, Mr. Salawu Abiola, expressed his appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for his empathetic leadership and for addressing the concerns of the affected property owners. Mr. Abiola thanked the governor for his commitment to making the project a success while ensuring that those impacted were adequately compensated for their losses.
This move marks a significant step in the execution of the circular road project, which is expected to improve transportation and contribute to the development of Ibadan and Oyo State as a whole.
