The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, has assured residents and landowners affected by the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project that their concerns over compensation, verification and the proposed road corridor would be presented to Governor Seyi Makinde for consideration.
Adekanmbi gave the assurance on Sunday during a stakeholders’ engagement with representatives of communities affected by the project, describing the meeting as a “candid family meeting” aimed at addressing issues surrounding the project.
He said the Circular Road was a laudable developmental project that would bring significant benefits to Oyo State, but acknowledged that, like major projects elsewhere, it could generate concerns among affected residents.
According to him, the issues raised by the residents centred mainly on the right-of-way, corridor, compensation and documentation.
He assured the residents that compensation for those already enumerated and verified would be paid within the lifespan of the current administration.
“The major thing that they want to see right now is compensation for the people that have been enumerated and verified,” Adekanmbi said.
He also promised to appeal to the governor for the verification of other affected property owners to commence as soon as possible, so that the process could proceed to approval and eventual compensation.
On the proposed extension of the road corridor beyond the existing 75-metre right-of-way, Adekanmbi said densely populated areas should be handled with consideration for the residents.
He said he would also appeal to Governor Makinde to consider reducing the width of the corridor in highly populated areas, particularly Ido, where many properties could be affected.
Adekanmbi added that where additional land was required in areas with vast undeveloped land, affected landowners should not lose their properties without appropriate compensation.
He said the residents’ concerns would be presented to Governor Makinde, stressing that the engagement was aimed at finding solutions in a respectful, transparent and dignified manner.
The APM candidate disclosed that he was personally affected by the project, revealing that part of his property at Olorunsogo fell within the road’s right-of-way.
“I have property lands too at Olorunsogo, and the road actually took part of my land. So I know I’m not an academic affected person on this matter. I am from that area, I have land too that fell within the right-of-way,” he said.
Speaking on continuity, Adekanmbi said developmental projects and obligations should continue beyond the tenure of any administration.
He pledged to continue pursuing any outstanding issues with affected residents, irrespective of the administration in power.
Earlier, the residents, through their representative, Prince Niyi Fasuyi, appealed to the state government to urgently address the hardship being experienced by people whose properties fell within the project’s right-of-way.
Fasuyi said compensation for affected property owners in Segment One had been approved since April but was yet to be paid, despite the completion of verification.
He added that those affected in Segment Two were still awaiting verification, leaving many uncertain about the amount of compensation they would receive.
According to him, some affected residents had become homeless, while community members had been compelled to provide financial assistance to vulnerable persons.
Fasuyi said residents were not seeking political handouts but lawful compensation for their properties.
“We are not asking for money. We are asking for what is needed to be done by the law. Compensation is to be paid when government acquires land,” he said.
He also appealed to the government to clarify the proposed additional corridor and ensure that landowners whose properties would be acquired were properly compensated.
Fasuyi cautioned politicians against politicising the issue ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that the residents’ concerns were about protecting their property rights and securing lawful compensation.
At the end of the engagement, the residents reportedly appointed Adekanmbi as an ambassador of the Circular Road Residents Association, a responsibility he accepted with humility.
