The Oyo State Government has disbursed another N200m in compensation to property owners affected by the ongoing Circular Road project in Ibadan, bringing total payments so far to N600m.
The latest payment, which represents the fourth batch, was released on Thursday at the office of the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, assured that the full N1bn earmarked for compensation would be paid soon.
“With this exercise, we are gradually approaching the N1bn mark. Today, beneficiaries will receive between N3m and N5m each, with payments to be credited immediately,” Oyelade said.
He explained that the Circular Road corridor was first acquired in 2006 and expanded in 2018, before Governor Seyi Makinde assumed office.
Despite the expansion not taking place under his administration, the governor, he said, directed that owners of both legal and illegal structures should be compensated.
Oyelade also cautioned beneficiaries against fraudsters, warning them to report any government official who demands kickbacks.
Describing the project as “ordained by God,” the commissioner recalled that its concept dated back to 2005 under former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.
“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 later—after which the Circular Road has been named in his honour,” he said.
Representatives of the beneficiaries, Alawiye Adebayo and Abigeal Opelopeoluwa, commended Governor Makinde for keeping his promises and demonstrating compassion in governance.
