The Oyo State Government on Friday addressed agitation concerning the Ibadan Circular Road corridor, stating that the government acquired 150 meters left and right from the middle of the road in the year 2006, while another 350 meters left and right were acquired in the year 2018.
State Commissioner for Lands, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, who stated this while briefing journalists at the State Secretariat on Friday, added that the two segments acquired were gazetted by governments predating the present Governor Seyi Makinde-led government.
Akin-Funmilayo said the Makinde government has not acquired an extra square meter but was only developing what it met on the ground.
The briefing was called after the government met with representatives of the Ibadan Circular Road corridor residents who have carried out daily protests in front of the State Secretariat, Ibadan, for three days.
Speaking, Akin-Funmilayo noted that the government was presently clearing the first segment of 150 metres left and right, but said he would order officials of the government to stop marking for demolition houses after 150 metres left and right of the road.
Even within the 150 metres left and right, the commissioner said the government would take cognisance of not demolishing densely populated segments, settlements, and structures of economic value, which he said would be fenced around.
He assured that the government would give adequate compensation to affected owners of structures, adding that enumeration of the structures was ongoing.
According to Akin-Funmilayo, the marking of structures may not totally connote that they would be demolished but that their owners should freeze further construction works.
The commissioner said the Ibadan Circular Road project was being done in the best interest of the development of the state.
He added that the government would also listen to applications for some integration within the 350-meter segment.
Speaking further, Akin-Funmilayo said the state government was wary of real estate operators already advertising the road corridor for sale, as it has removed billboards bearing such advertisements.
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