The Oyo State Government has instructed the officials of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development to stop the marking and demolition of houses beyond the 150 meters mark along the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road.

This is just as the government has also begun enumeration of affected houses in the corridor with a view to paying adequate compensation to those affected.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, stated this on Friday, during a press briefing jointly addressed with Professor Dahud Kehinde Shangodoyin, Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, at the Conference Room of the Ministry, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Mr Akin-Funmilayo maintained that the administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde will continue to prioritize the welfare of its citizens and residents for more growth and development.

He explained that contrary to claims that Governor Makinde extended the setback on the road from 150meters to 500meters, the governor has not acquired any square meter of land within the corridor of the Circular Road since 2019 when he got into office.

According to him, 150 meters to the left and 150 meters to the right of the Circular Road were acquired in August 2006 during the administration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja as the governor of the state, while the 350meters to the left and right of the road was also acquired and gazette by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2018.

Akin-Funmilayo, however, assured the affected residents of the area of adequate compensation after due enumeration of their lands and properties have been concluded, adding that the marking of buildings along the corridor are for enumeration to know the number of affected properties captured and to stop those that are erecting new structures on the acquired lands and not necessarily for demolitions.

He also assured the affected property owners that the government, in the main time, would stop the marking and demolition of affected buildings.

He said: “We have established the fact that the acquisition of the Circular Road was done in two phases; one in 2006, which is 150meters left and right and extended to 500 meters in 2018. The gazettes to that effect are there.

“The governor, ever since he came on board, has never acquired a single square meter along the Circular Road. What the governor met on the ground when he came on board is what we are developing, and that is established.

“The Circular Road is divided into two phases; the 150m segment and that of the 350m. The 150m part is what we are clearing now for development and the construction of the project.

“I want to make it clear that settlements within the 150m will be fenced off the Circular Road. They are going to be preserved and not removed. When I say settlement, it is inclusive of villages and housing settlements and some other value-addition settlements within that corridor are going to be left the way they are. We won’t embark on a total clearance of 150 meters.

“The State Government will try its best to minimize the consequences in the construction of this road. There is nothing we can do; some buildings have to go but adequate compensation will be paid to affected house owners. And we have equally started that enumeration right now.

“I also want to make it clear that the marking of buildings does not, in anyway, presuppose demolition. That buildings are being marked does not connote they are going to be demolished. They are being marked for two reasons.

The first reason is to freeze development; we want to know the buildings on ground by the time construction is ongoing. Secondly, in the event that compensation has to be paid, we want to know the places that have been captured.

“Our experience recently, after we have appealed and even put out jingles to people to stop development around the Circular Road corridor, we still found out that some people just started putting up foundations again. We don’t think people doing that are going to be captured as part of those to be compensated.”

Akin-Funmilayo added that the Makinde-led government will continue to embark on developmental projects in the best interest of the public and not for personal gains, noting that all settlements such as villages, houses and investments within the acquired 150 meters to the left and right will be preserved, while government will also give lands to some of those affected to build other structures.

He, therefore, enjoined the residents of the affected areas to support government policies, saying that “we should have it at the back of our minds that government is carrying out this development in the best interest of the citizens of Oyo State but not in personal interests. We will continue to engage with you to explain our position and to listen to your grievances as well.

“Our doors are widely open for you to walk in and I can guarantee you that, for now, I have instructed that houses beyond 150m, should not be marked. I have also instructed that no building should be pulled down for now.”

Speaking on behalf of the affected residents, Prince Niyi Fasoye said the affected residents are expecting more favourable responses from Governor Makinde.