Oyo State approves ₦5.8bn compensation for Circular Road property owners after protests, following earlier reports of displacement concerns in Ibadan.
The Oyo State Government has approved a total of ₦5.813 billion compensation package for over 900 property owners affected by the ongoing Circular road project in Ibadan, in a major policy response to weeks of public concern and agitation.
The decision was taken at the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Seyi Makinde, marking one of the most significant financial interventions linked to the controversial infrastructure project in recent months.
The approval comes in the wake of earlier public protests and widespread complaints from residents along the Circular road corridor.
As previously reported by IREPORT247NEWS, affected communities had on April 9 staged demonstrations demanding fairness, transparency, and strict compliance with the originally approved 75-metre right-of-way.
Residents had expressed frustration that out of more than 2,000 affected property owners, only a small fraction—about 204 people—had received compensation at the time.
Many also insisted that the amounts paid were inadequate to rebuild homes or relocate families displaced by the project.
“This is not just about infrastructure; it is about people’s lives,” one affected resident said during the protest, stressing that the human cost of the Circular road development had been underestimated.
Some residents further raised concerns over the emotional toll of the prolonged dispute, alleging that uncertainty surrounding compensation had worsened hardship for several families within the affected communities.
Circular road: Ibadan residents protest, warn authorities to stick to 75-metre limit
In a statement issued on April 22 and signed by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government confirmed that the newly approved ₦5.813 billion will cover over 900 additional property owners impacted by the Circular road project.
According to the statement, the Executive Council believes the payment will help reduce tension, address misinformation, and restore public confidence in the ongoing urban renewal effort.
It also stated that the intervention is expected to accelerate planning processes, strengthen investor confidence, and support the long-term transformation of Ibadan’s infrastructure landscape.
The government also recalled that over ₦800 million had already been disbursed in earlier phases of compensation within the last 18 months, as part of ongoing efforts to manage the impact of the Circular road construction.
Beyond the compensation exercise, the Council highlighted wider economic support measures introduced under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) programme, initiated in 2023.
The initiative was designed to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal through interventions such as food support, healthcare access, small business funding, and transport relief.
As part of this framework, the government also approved ₦710.382 million for transportation subsidies covering March to August 2026.
Officials said the scheme will continue to support vulnerable groups including students, pensioners, and persons living with disabilities who depend heavily on public transport.
The Commissioner noted that over 4 million commuters benefited from transport subsidy interventions in the previous year alone, reflecting what the government described as one of the largest social support systems in the state.
On infrastructure development, the Council reaffirmed ongoing work on the Okaka Junction–Otu–Igbeti–Kishi road project, including bridge construction over the Otu and Ofiki rivers.
The project, valued at ₦26.482 billion, also received an additional ₦3.981 billion approval for expansion.
Officials say these projects, alongside the Circular road, form part of a broader strategy to open up rural and urban corridors, improve connectivity, and stimulate economic growth across Oyo State.
The Council also approved ₦126.912 million for the completion of the Oyo State Christian Wing multipurpose hall, a project originally initiated over two decades ago during the administration of former Governor Lam Adesina.
In addition, approval was granted for the hosting of the 2026 Oyo State International Tourism Summit.
The government said the event will build on previous editions and further position the state as a key destination for tourism, investment, and cultural promotion.
With the latest ₦5.8 billion approval, the Oyo State Government appears to be taking a decisive step toward resolving one of the most sensitive issues surrounding the Circular road project—balancing large-scale infrastructure development with the social and economic realities of affected residents.
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