The Oyo State government has released another N200 million to bring the total compensation to property owners affected by the ongoing Circular Road project in Ibadan, the state capital to ₦600 million.
The fourth batch of N200 million was released on Thursday at the Office of the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo.
Akin-Funmilayo, at the event, promised that the total payment of N1 billion compensation would be completed soon.
“With this exercise, we are gradually approaching the ₦1 billion mark. Today, beneficiaries will receive between ₦3 million and ₦5 million each, with payments to be credited immediately,” Akin Fumilayo said.
He explained that the Circular Road corridor was first acquired in 2006 and expanded in 2018 before Governor Seyi Makinde assumed office, adding that the project had witnessed all forms of encroachments ever since.
He added that Governor Makinde directed that although the corridor expansion did not take place under his administration, owners of both legal and illegal structures should be compensated.
The Commissioner cautioned beneficiaries against falling victims to fraudsters, stressing that they should report any government official who ask them for kickbacks.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the 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 said.
Representatives of the beneficiaries, Alawiye Adebayo and Iyafin Abigeal Opelopeoluwa, commended Governor Makinde for keeping to his promises and demonstrating compassion in governance.
