Ibadan – Oyo State government has commenced payment of N325 million compensation to 227 owners of property demolished for some public projects at Iwo Road, Ibadan.
The properties were demolished to pave a way for the construction of vehicle terminals and other projects by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The state Commissioner for Public Works, Professor Daud Sangodoyin, while presenting cheques to the affected property owners on Wednesday described the gesture as a promise made and promise kept by Governor Makinde.
The 227 beneficiaries are mainly those whose properties are not subjects of litigation or associated with any pending legal case in the court of law.
The Commissioner further alluded the delay in the fund disbursement to due process that must be strictly followed , saying three ministries were involved in the process of valuing the properties and data collection.
He added that governor Makinde was concerned about the concerns of the affected property owners and had charged all concerned ministries to accelerate the process in order to fast track the disbursement.
Recalled that Governor Makinde’s government demolished some private properties at Iwo Road to enable the state achieve its infrastructural development in the area, including construction of two bus terminals.
Makinde also assured affected property owners in the area that his administration would compensate those affected, describing action as needed for greater public good.
Speaking with journalists at the presentation of cheques, the Commissioner for Works, Professor Sangodoyin commended the affected property owners for their patience, understanding, and cooperation all along.
He assured that the people will continue to be the focal point of all policies and programs of the Makinde led government.
“We have two bus terminals that we’re building at Iwo Road which occupy two private properties and we need to pay compensation. So, for those that have no litigation on their properties, they’re 227, which today, we’ve started paying them compensations worth 325 million naira.
“All we had to do was to identify owners of the properties and present their cheques to them.” Prof Sangodoyin
While reacting to how the ministry arrived at the figures Prof Sangodoyin said, “three ministries are involved in the valuation of the properties namely; Ministries of Justice, Lands, Public Works.
“They did the valuation of the properties and based on their recommendations on the worth on the properties, that’s how we arrived at the value for each property.
“And we’re not making this payment in batches. Like I said earlier, the money is already available for all those with no litigation on their properties,” he said.
Some of the just compensated property owners who spoke with journalists anonymously for personal reasons expressed gratitude to the governor for being a promise keeper and vowed to continue to support him in his future political endeavors.
