The Oyo State Government has disbursed more than ₦5.35 billion in compensation to 578 property owners affected by the first segment of the Ibadan Circular Road Project. The payment represents a significant milestone in the delivery of one of the state’s most ambitious infrastructure undertakings and underscores Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to reconciling development with the protection of citizens’ interests.
Government Reports Substantial Progress in Payment Exercise
Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi, the governor’s Executive Adviser on New Towns and Cities, provided an update on the compensation exercise, stating that the government had recorded considerable progress in the payment process. According to her, hundreds of affected property owners across both the Right of Way and Omission categories have already received their approved compensation.
The update was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, by Sulaimon Olarenwaju, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media.
Scope of the First Segment
The statement explained that the first segment of the Ibadan Circular Road covers 32.2 kilometres. It runs from the Abiola Ajimobi Technical University axis on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oluyole Local Government Area, passes through Ona Ara LGA, and ends at Badeku Junction on the Ibadan-Ife Expressway in Egbeda LGA.
Right of Way Category
Under the Right of Way category, which comprises properties situated within 75 metres on either side of the road median, a total of 674 structures were enumerated. Following appeals and concerns raised by residents across the affected local government areas, Governor Makinde approved a reduction of the initial setback from 150 metres to 75 metres in clustered and built-up areas.
To compensate affected owners in this category, the governor approved the sum of ₦3,862,151,322.20. So far, 411 claimants have appeared before the screening committee and have been screened, while 378 claimants have successfully executed their Deeds of Indemnity, obtained clearance and received their compensation payments.
Omission Category
The omission category consists of individuals who asserted that their properties were affected by the project without prior enumeration or compensation. In response, the state New Towns and Cities Development Authority, working with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Office of the Surveyor-General, conducted a fresh enumeration exercise that identified 251 affected structures.
Governor Makinde subsequently approved ₦1,813,954,100.00 as compensation for property owners in this category. Records indicate that 216 property owners have appeared before the Monitoring Team on Payment of Compensation Screening Committee, while 200 claimants who completed the required documentation and executed their Deeds of Indemnity have been cleared and paid a total of ₦1,493,784,700.00.
In total, 578 property owners across both categories have received compensation payments, reflecting meaningful progress in the administration’s determination to ensure that those affected by the project are adequately compensated.
Exercise Remains Ongoing
Adebiyi noted that the compensation exercise is still in progress and that the government is committed to ensuring that all eligible claimants who satisfy the stipulated requirements receive their payments. She explained that 263 claimants in the Right of Way category and 35 in the omission category have yet to appear before the committee, while others are expected to complete documentation requirements before final clearance.
According to her, only 16 claimants experienced unsuccessful payment transactions owing to discrepancies between the names submitted during screening and the bank account details provided. She added that efforts are ongoing to resolve the issues and facilitate payment.
Adebiyi reiterated that the exercise has been conducted transparently, fairly and without favouritism, assuring all affected property owners that due process remains the guiding principle throughout.
Balancing Development With Fairness
The government reaffirmed its commitment to delivering transformative infrastructure while safeguarding the interests of affected residents. The statement noted that the payment of more than ₦5.35 billion in compensation reflects the administration’s resolve to ensure that development proceeds hand in hand with fairness, accountability and responsible governance.
The disbursement follows an earlier approval by the governor of ₦4.6 billion as the first tranche of compensation for property owners affected by the project, announced during a meeting with affected owners along the road. The governor had said the compensation would be paid directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, with disbursement beginning immediately.
