The Governor ‘Seyi Makinde-led administration in Oyo State has released the total sum of ₦600 million as compensation to property owners affected by the ongoing Circular Road Project in Ibadan.
The fourth batch of ₦200 million was released on Thursday at the Office of the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Williams Akin Funmilayo.
This was as the commissioner promised that the payment of the total sum of One Billion Naira compensation will be completed soon.
The state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, made the disclosure in a release on Thursday.
“With this exercise, we are gradually approaching the One Billion Naira mark. Today, beneficiaries will receive between ₦3 million and ₦5 million each, with payments to be credited immediately,” Funmilayo said.
He explained that the Circular Road corridor was first acquired in 2006 and expanded in 2018 before Makinde assumed office, adding that the corridor had witnessed all forms of encroachments ever since.
He stated that Governor Makinde however directed that, even though the Circular Road corridor expansion did not take place under his watch, owners of both the legal and illegal structures should be compensated.
The commissioner cautioned beneficiaries against falling victims of fraudsters, stressing that they should report any government official who ask them for kickbacks.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Oyelade who also spoke, described the Circular Road Project as one “ordained by God,” noting that its concept dated back to 2005.
“If you look at it very well, it would appear that this is a project the Lord had ordained because the concept started 20 years ago by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja who incidentally is being coronated as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, 20 years after and after which the Circular Road has been named after him,” he added.
Representatives of the beneficiaries, Alawiye Adebayo and Iyafin Abigeal Opelopeoluwa, commended Governor Makinde for keeping to his promises and demonstrating compassion in governance.
