Property Owners Cry Out Over Planned Demolition Of Buildings In Oyo

The concerned owners of properties along the Ojoo-Moniya corridor of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have appealed to both Governor Seyi Makinde and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi to compensate them before pulling down their properties for which they had been served a 7-day demolition notice.

They faulted government notice to demolish the structures, claiming that they sought and received appropriate approvals from the state government before erecting their buildings along the corridor.

In a statement signed on behalf of the property owners by Mr Basiru Ajayi titled: ‘Save Our Soul Message: Ibadan Residents Cry Out Over Planned Demolition Of Over 500 Buildings By Gov Seyi Makinde & Minister Dave Umah’, they described the planned demolition as brazen violation of their fundamental rights to own immovable property and fair hearing as guaranteed under Sections 43 & 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

They expressed shock over the service of the demolition notice on April 14, 2025, by the Oyo State Government through the Ministry of Works, and marking of the properties for demolition for falling within the right of way of a federal highway.

“It should be noted that before we commenced development, we sought and obtained the requisite approval for building plans and survey plans in respect of these properties.

“How can the government which approved these developments now turn around to say they are illegal?” they wondered.

The distraught property owners added that information at their disposal indicated that the government intended to dualise the Old Ibadan-Oyo Road along that corridor.

The affected persons maintained that while they were not opposed to taking over of their properties by the government for overriding public interest, the government had a duty to serve them revocation, not demolition notice which must be accompanied by appropriate compensation.

“As citizens, we are not averse to infrastructure development, but same should not affect the lives and limbs of the society. We know for a fact that government can acquire land for overriding public interest under the Land Use Act. But in doing so, it is expected to serve a notice of revocation and pay appropriate compensation thereto.

“By serving us a 7-day demolition notice instead of a revocation notice, we have reasonable fears that the government intends to demolish all of our properties without paying us any kobo as compensation,” they said.

A copy of the demolition notice sighted by LEADERSHIP and dated April 1, 2025 from the Oyo State Ministry of Public Works and Transport and signed by Engr. O. F. Fadare on behalf of the Commissioner had the title: “Notice for Removal of Structures Illegally Erected on the Federal Roads and Bridges Right-Of-Way.”

It was noted that the notice was in line with the publication of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing of Friday, March 13, 2020 and Federal Highways Regulations for removal of the marked structure(s) belonging to the affected persons within the Right of Way of the Ojoo-Akinyele Interchange, a federal road.