Oyo State has started paying compensation to property owners whose land was affected by the Ojoo/Akinyele Road expansion project. The move demonstrates the government's commitment to both infrastructure development and fair treatment of impacted residents.
Williams Akin-Funmilayo, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, announced this during a compensation payment session. He spoke directly to affected property owners who lost land to the road reconstruction work.
The commissioner stressed that development projects shouldn't harm ordinary citizens. He noted that Oyo State's infrastructure push aims to grow the economy and position the state as a business destination.
According to Akin-Funmilayo, the completed road will transform the region's economic prospects. New facilities like an inland dry port, railway station, and a circular road will create business opportunities for investors and traders.
Governor Seyi Makinde instructed the ministry to process compensation documents without unnecessary delays. This directive shaped how officials handle property owner claims in the expansion zone.
A special verification committee oversees the compensation process. Retired Commissioner of Police Sunday Babatunde Odukoya heads the team, which clears claimants before payments are released.
So far, officials have identified 65 affected property owners in this initial phase. Twenty-two have been cleared and received their compensation payments already.
The remaining claimants are undergoing verification by the committee. Payments will follow once the verification process is complete.
Akin-Funmilayo warned recipients against bribing ministry officials for faster processing. He told them the compensation belongs solely to them and urged any victims of extortion to report it directly to his office.
He appealed for cooperation from property and land owners in the area. Such collaboration, he argued, ensures that residents benefit from these development projects upon completion.
Two claimants spoke on behalf of affected property owners during the session. Kayode Adebayo and Oseni Alimot Tolulope praised Governor Makinde's administration for the gesture.
They described the compensation as unexpected and welcomed. Both expressed gratitude for the financial relief provided to impacted residents.
Permanent Secretary Hakim Ademola Audu attended the session alongside ministry directors. Other officials were also present to witness the compensation payments.
