The Oyo State Government has launched a re-verification exercise for property owners and claimants affected by the acquisition of land on Segment I of the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road. The affected area spans Alago to Ajota, and the exercise aims to ensure rightful compensation is paid promptly.
The re-verification process commenced on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan, and will run until Saturday, December 22, 2024. Approximately 3,000 property owners are expected to participate in the exercise.
Retired Commissioner of Police, Sunday Odukoya, who chairs the monitoring team, emphasized the importance of the exercise in gathering accurate data to ensure compensation reaches the rightful claimants. He noted that Governor Seyi Makinde is committed to expediting the process to prevent undue hardship for property owners.
Odukoya stated:
“The governor instructed us to listen to the claimants and ensure their compensation is processed quickly. We are here to make sure they don’t experience unnecessary delays or difficulties. Our team is verifying their documents to confirm ownership and validity.”
He highlighted that required documents include National Identification Numbers (NIN), land ownership documents, purchase receipts, and survey documents. While turnout on the first day was low, Odukoya expressed hope that more affected property owners would participate during the week.
Free and Transparent Process
Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and a member of the monitoring team, reiterated that the verification exercise is free. He urged property owners not to engage intermediaries or agents, as the government has not accredited any third parties to act on its behalf.
Olatunbosun explained:
“We have a mandate from the governor to verify claims and ensure genuine property owners receive their compensation. The Ministry of Lands has prepared the list of affected properties, but this exercise will confirm the details before payment is made.”
He assured participants that the week-long exercise aims to capture all eligible claimants and advised those yet to participate to bring original and photocopied documents for verification.
Claimants Express Gratitude
Some property owners expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts. Mr. Kazeem Bello, Mrs. Bolatito Abigail, and Mr. Jimoh Dauda commended Governor Makinde for organizing a smooth and transparent process.
Mr. Dauda urged other property owners to take advantage of the opportunity:
“This process is well-organized, and we are grateful. I encourage everyone affected to come forward and complete their verification. The governor has shown his commitment to supporting us.”
The re-verification exercise is part of the state government’s commitment to addressing the impact of the Circular Road project and ensuring fair compensation for affected individuals.
