Ekiti Landowners Demand Negotiation, Fair Compensation For Ring Road Expansion

Residents of Ekiti State have called on the state government to ensure proper consultation, negotiation and payment of adequate compensation to landowners before acquiring their properties for developmental projects.

They said reaching concrete agreements with affected families and communities was necessary to prevent disputes and ensure peaceful land acquisition, particularly as the government pursues the expansion of the state’s ring road.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP in Ado-Ekiti, a resident, Ibrahim Alfa, said although the government had statutory authority over land administration, it must engage landowners and reach agreements with them before taking over their properties.

Alfa recalled that traditional rulers exercised considerable authority over land in the past but said the situation had changed with the establishment of government structures.

He, however, stressed that government authority over land did not remove the need for dialogue with families and individuals whose properties were earmarked for acquisition.

“The government has to pay compensation in order to let peace reign. Before the land acquisition, the government has to discuss with the people and agree on what to give and pay as compensation to the family on the land they intend to acquire.

“So, an individual doesn’t absolutely have power and control over the land he owns. Whatever the government says is the final over land acquisition. All the lands being acquired by the government are for the development of the state, towns and villages. The right thing is for the government to make use of the land for the purpose for which it is acquired,” he said.

On determining appropriate compensation, Alfa said professional valuers should assess the properties and establish their current market values.

He said the government should be prepared to pay the assessed amounts and honour the terms agreed upon with landowners, whether the properties were measured in plots, acres or hectares.

Also speaking, Dr Tunde Olaiya said government acquisition of land for public projects, including road construction and other infrastructure, should follow due process, particularly where individuals or families have valid ownership documents.

Olaiya said the existence of a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and other relevant ownership documents should make it necessary for the government to negotiate with the original owners before taking possession.

He said negotiations should produce a consensus on compensation, adding that the amount payable must reflect prevailing economic realities.

“Once the land doesn’t belong to the government, and once there is Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), original owner of the land is available, then the due process should be followed. The government has to negotiate with the owner of the land.

“Under the law of the country, most of the land belongs to the government. Yet, they need to negotiate with landowners. Through that, a consensus will be reached on the amount or compensation to be paid to the owner of the land. The amount to be paid must be in tune with the current realities,” he said.

Olaiya argued that compensation assessments should also consider changes in property values and the rising cost of building materials.

He said properties constructed 10 or 20 years ago could have appreciated significantly, making it necessary for government valuers to consider their present replacement costs when determining compensation.

“The prices of cement, sand, planks and other building materials have increased exponentially. Even if it is just landed property, you would agree with me that the value of a plot is not what it used to be,” he said.

He urged the government to ensure proper valuation of affected properties to avoid disputes, adding that landowners with valid ownership documents should not be dispossessed without following the appropriate procedures.

“If the owner has all the right documents, government cannot forcefully take over the land from the owner. It can only negotiate. If that fails, negotiation should continue,” he added.

The residents’ concerns come amid the Ekiti State Government’s appeal to communities along the ongoing ring road construction corridor to release portions of their land to facilitate the expansion of the project and the state’s development plans.

Some affected communities and landowners, including Afao-Ekiti, Aare-Ekiti, Araromi-Obu, Igbogun and Iworoko-Ekiti, have been at loggerheads with the state government over its plan to acquire 200 metres of land on each side of the ring road for development purposes.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, who presided over a peace meeting with representatives of the affected communities in Ado-Ekiti, insisted that the government had no intention of forcefully acquiring their properties, assuring them that compensation would be paid.

Afuye said the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji preferred consultation and advocacy in resolving sensitive issues involving communities, but urged residents not to take the government’s conciliatory approach for granted by resorting to self-help.

She said the proposed acquisition was intended to facilitate the development of the ring road corridor and attract additional infrastructure to the area.

“Oyebanji is keenly interested in the drastic development of Ekiti State. The land we intend to acquire is to develop the ring road axis by bringing other landmark infrastructure to the axis, thereby opening up the area as a new hub of development.

“This government believes in advocacy and consultation. You voted us into power and we shall continually consider your interests in our policy execution. Let us join hands to develop this state. We have no other state to call ours.

“No administration in this state has dolled out compensations to property owners like the Oyebanji-led administration. I can assure you that your sacrifice will not be in vain, as you shall be well compensated,” she assured.

The deputy governor also sought to allay fears of widespread demolition of properties along the corridor, promising to personally visit the affected areas with relevant government agencies to assess the situation and ensure that demolitions, where necessary, were minimised when work resumes on the project.