Oyo State Government has commenced payment of the first tranche of compensation to landowners affected by the construction of the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road in Ajota to Alaago axis.
This made one of the beneficiary property owners, Elder Ayoade Joel, to express his happiness, as he said his initial distress at the thought that he had lost a property turned to joy with the government compensation.
A statement by the Special Adviser (Media), Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said that the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, declared on Friday, April 11, that the state government has begun the payment of over N264 million to the first set of people affected by the project, noting that others would also be called upon soon, as the payment is being made in tranches.
The commissioner, who stated this while addressing some of the beneficiaries at the Ministry of Lands, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said that Governor Seyi Makinde had planned to compensate those affected by the Ibadan Circular Road Project way before the affected property owners embarked on a protest.
This was as the commissioner assured that the government had also worked on compensations for property owners affected by the ongoing constructions of weighbridges on Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road and the intersection on Ibadan-Ife-Ajia-Airport Road, with a spur to Amuloko.
He said: “Today, we are paying about N264 million to the first set of people who were affected and I want to assure you that others too would soon be called upon. We are doing this in tranches.
“You will sign a document and fill in your details. And I want to assure you that by Monday, you will be getting alerts on your phones.
“The government of Seyi Makinde wants to bring to fruition the Ibadan Circular road project for the development of Oyo State. The first phase of the project will soon be completed.
“This project, upon completion, will be the first motorway in Nigeria because of its configuration and it will bring massive expansion to the economy of Oyo State.
“The project idea was conceived more than 20 years ago, but it had dragged on for a long time. But when this government came into place, the governor embarked on the project and, as a result, we needed to demolish some surrounding structures to make way for the road.
“The governor felt that those who had already built on the land should be compensated and we had put the process of compensating them in the pipeline since that time.”
Similarly, Executive Assistant on Security to Governor Makinde, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd), who is also the chairman of the monitoring committee on compensation for affected landowners in Ajota to Alaago Axis of Ibadan Circular Road, commended the governor for paying compensation to the affected property owners after his committee had carried out a thorough verification exercise.
He equally appreciated the property owners for their patience and cooperation during the verification exercise.
He said: “The governor deserves a lot of thanks and praise for promising that compensation would be given to affected people and it is happening today. He addressed them when they protested and came to the Secretariat. He asked them to exercise patience for a little time and that they would be compensated, which has now come to reality.
“I also have to thank the property owners for their cooperation during the verification exercise. They have really done well. As the commissioner said, this payment is being made in segments, because there are many people.”
In their separate responses, some of the beneficiaries hailed Governor Makinde for keeping to his word that compensation would be paid to affected property owners.
One of them, Elder Ayoade Joel, noted that he was in distress over the loss of his property to the project, but Governor Makinde has made him happy, saying: “Before now, I was totally in distress but today, the government of Seyi Makinde is making me happy. This is because he promised us and he has fulfilled his promise. I pray that God will continue to be with him.
“I want to charge others who are affected to remain calm, because I am sure those who are yet to be compensated would be reached out to. Very soon, it will be their own turn.”
Similarly, Mrs Omolara Asiata, from Aba-Otun, noted that what the government did was exemplary, adding that she was grateful that the governor has brought comfort to the affected people.
“What the governor has done for us is exemplary and we appreciate it. When I heard about the demolition, I felt very sad and thought no help would locate us soon. But now, we are grateful that he is giving us comfort.
“I am now happy because he has restored happiness.”
In the same vein, Mr Ismail Bada, also a property owner on the axis, said: “we are here to receive the compensation for our demolished properties. We agreed that if the government wants to develop the city, there would be demolitions but the government should have a structure on the ground to take care of those who would lose properties.
“The interesting thing about this is that we have had past governments, but the government of Governor Makinde is different. He talked about compensation and he is fulfilling it now.”
