Oyo State Government Approves Compensation for Road Expansion Affected Property Owners
The Oyo State government has initiated compensation payments for property owners impacted by the ongoing widening and asphalt reconstruction of the Oju/Akinyele road. This move underscores the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development while ensuring fairness for residents affected by this major project.
Mr. Williams Akin Funmilayo, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, announced the compensation during a dialogue focused on the payment process for property owners whose assets were impacted by the construction work, particularly at the Oju Interchange/IITA and Moniya Junction/Akinyele Interchange that connects to the new Oyo Expressway.
Funmilayo emphasized that infrastructure development should not have adverse effects on the community. He asserted that the current road expansion project aims to stimulate economic growth in Oyo State, transforming it into a business hub for neighboring regions.
He further noted that completing the road expansion will enhance agricultural ventures and create opportunities for residents. The initiative includes the construction of inland dry ports, railway stations, and new town developments, accompanied by the establishment of a ring road designed to facilitate economic activities in the southwestern region, allowing investors to efficiently clear goods at the dry ports.
The Commissioner revealed that Governor Seyi Makinde has instructed the ministry to expedite the document processing for affected property owners. To streamline the compensation process, a Standing Committee on Verification of Affected Claimants for Compensation Payments was established. This committee, chaired by former Commissioner of Police Mr. Sunday Babatunde Odukoya, aims to ensure prompt payments as soon as claimants are verified.
In this initial phase, 65 property owners have been identified, with 22 having been licensed and receiving their compensation. The remaining property owners are still in the licensing stage. Funmilayo urged the claimants to refrain from using compensation funds to bribe officials, insisting that any demands for bribes should be reported directly to his office.
As various development initiatives progress, the Commissioner called for cooperation from real estate and landowners in the region, expressing confidence that the completed projects would yield benefits for all stakeholders. Representatives of the affected property owners, Kayode Adebayo and Oseni Alimot Tolulope, expressed their gratitude to Governor Makinde, noting that the compensation came as a welcome surprise during the meeting attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hakim Ademola Audu, and other board members.
