Oyo Begins Compensation Payment for Ojoo/Akinyele Road Expansion Victims

The Oyo State Government has started paying compensation to residents and property owners affected by the ongoing expansion and reconstruction of the Ojoo/Akinyele road project in Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, disclosed this during an interactive session with affected property owners, stating that the move was aimed at ensuring fairness while carrying out major infrastructure projects across the state.

According to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, the compensation exercise followed government approval to prevent residents from suffering losses due to development projects.

Akin-Funmilayo explained that the road expansion project is expected to improve economic activities in the state, particularly in agriculture and transportation, while also supporting the development of the inland dry port, railway station, circular road and the proposed new town in the axis.

He added that Governor Seyi Makinde directed the ministry to ensure speedy processing of documents belonging to affected property owners to avoid unnecessary delays.

The government also revealed that a standing committee on verification and compensation, headed by retired Commissioner of Police Sunday Babatunde Odukoya, has been established to oversee the process.

According to the statement, 65 affected property owners were identified in the first phase of the exercise, while 22 beneficiaries have already been verified and compensated, with others still undergoing documentation and verification.

The state government warned claimants against bribery, urging residents to report any official demanding illegal payments during the process.

Some beneficiaries, including Kayode Adebayo and Alimot Tolulope, commended the government for the gesture, describing the compensation payment as encouraging and timely.