Oyo State Government has released another ₦200 million compensation fund to property owners affected by the ongoing Circular Road project in Ibadan, bringing the total payment so far to ₦600 million. The disbursement was made today at the office of the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Williams Akin Funmilayo.
“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 Funmilayo stated. He added that the full ₦1 billion compensation will soon be completed.
The commissioner explained that the Circular Road corridor was first acquired in 2006 and later expanded in 2018 before Governor Seyi Makinde assumed office. He said the project had witnessed different forms of encroachments over the years. Despite the expansion not taking place under his administration, Governor Makinde directed that both legal and illegal property owners should be compensated.
Akin Funmilayo also warned beneficiaries to avoid fraudsters and report any official demanding kickbacks. “Beneficiaries must be cautious and report immediately if any government worker requests unauthorized payments,” he cautioned.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the project as one with divine significance. “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, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, who incidentally is being coronated as the Olubadan of Ibadanland 20 years after, and after which the Circular Road has been named,” Oyelade said.
Representatives of beneficiaries, Alawiye Adebayo and Iyafin Abigeal Opelopeoluwa, praised Governor Makinde for fulfilling his promises and showing compassion in governance.