By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Oyo State Executive Council (SEC) meeting chaired by Governor Seyi Makinde has approved compensation for over 900 property owners whose lands were affected by the ongoing construction of the Ibadan Circular Road.
According to a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, today, a total of N5.813bn will be paid to these categories of people.
“The SEC noted that the compensation would not only put a stop to the agitation and misinformation surrounding this laudable project, but will also pave the way for accelerated planning and development, foster investors’ confidence, and bring to reality the vision of a transformed urban development of Ibadan and Oyo State as conceived by Governor Seyi Makinde.
“The Council recalled that over N800 million had earlier been paid in the first phase as compensation for displaced persons in the past 18 months,” he said.
According to the Commissioner, Oyo State is one of the few states in the federation that has continued to support the masses since the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
“The introduction of the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER), set up by the state government since 2023, has positively impacted the lives of the masses through interventions such as food relief/palliatives, health insurance, MSME support, and transportation.
“The Council also approved the sum of N710.382 million to cover transportation subsidy for the period between March and August 2026,” he said.
Prince Oyelade recalled that last year alone, over four million commuters, including pensioners, students, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, benefited from between 50 and 100 per cent transportation subsidies in the state.
“The SEC noted the strategic importance of the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Okaka Junction – Out – Igbeti – Kishi Road and the construction of bridges over the Otu and Ofiki rivers at a cost of over N26.483bn.
“Council also approved the expansion of this project by N3.982 billion,” he said.
According to the Commissioner, Council further approved the completion of the Oyo State Christian Wing Multipurpose Hall, which was initiated over 25 years ago during the administration of the late Governor Lam Adesina.
He said the completion would cost N126.912 million.
Prince Oyelade added that in continuation of the administration’s belief in entrenching the state’s culture and expanding its global potentials, Council approved the hosting of the 2026 Oyo State International Tourism Summit, stressing that the Council believed that the approval would consolidate the huge successes recorded in previous editions.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Makinde.
