The Oyo State Government says it has paid more than ₦5.35 billion in compensation to 578 property owners affected by the first phase of the Ibadan Circular Road project.
The payment covers property owners classified under the Right of Way and Omission categories, according to the Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on New Towns and Cities, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi.
Providing an update on the exercise, Adebiyi said the government had made substantial progress in compensating residents whose properties were affected by the 32.2-kilometre first segment of the project.
The road stretches from the Abiola Ajimobi Technical University axis along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oluyole Local Government Area, passes through Ona Ara and terminates at Badeku Junction on the Ibadan-Ife Expressway in Egbeda Local Government Area.
Adebiyi said the compensation exercise covers two categories: properties within the designated Right of Way and properties identified later through an additional enumeration exercise.
378 Right of Way claimants receive payment
Under the Right of Way category, the government enumerated 674 structures located within 75 metres on either side of the road median.
Adebiyi said Governor Makinde approved a reduction of the initial 150-metre setback to 75 metres in clustered and built-up areas following concerns and appeals from residents in the affected communities.
The government approved ₦3.86 billion for compensation under this category.
According to Adebiyi, 411 claimants have appeared before the Screening Committee, while 378 have completed the required documentation, executed their Deeds of Indemnity and received payment.
She said 263 claimants had yet to appear before the committee.
Government approves ₦1.81bn for omitted properties
The Omission category covers property owners who claimed their structures were affected by the road project but were not included in the initial enumeration exercise.
Adebiyi said the Oyo 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 that identified 251 affected structures.
Following the exercise, the governor approved ₦1.81 billion for compensation under the category.
A total of 216 property owners have appeared before the Monitoring Team on Payment of Compensation Screening Committee, while 200 claimants who completed the necessary documentation and executed their Deeds of Indemnity have received a combined ₦1.49 billion.
The remaining 35 claimants are yet to appear before the committee.
Government addresses payment difficulties
Adebiyi said the compensation exercise was still ongoing, assuring affected property owners who meet the requirements that they would receive their payments.
She disclosed that 16 claimants experienced unsuccessful payment transactions because of discrepancies between the names submitted during screening and the bank account details provided.
According to her, the government is working to resolve the discrepancies and facilitate payment to the affected claimants.
She maintained that the exercise had been conducted transparently and without favouritism, adding that due process remained central to the screening and payment process.
The government said the compensation programme was intended to ensure that residents affected by the infrastructure project received appropriate payments while construction proceeded.
The latest figures indicate that 578 property owners have received compensation across both categories, although some claimants are still expected to complete screening and documentation requirements.
