By DAVID ADEOYE

The Oyo State Government has approved N5.8 billion compensation for over 900 land owners whose properties were affected by the construction of the Ibadan Circular Road.

A statement issued in Ibadan on Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, said that the money was approved by the state executive council during its weekly meeting on Tuesday in Ibadan.

The council recalled that over N800 million had in the past 18 months been paid in the first phase as compensation for displaced persons.

It said that the compensation would not only put a stop to agitations and misinformation on the Circular road project, but would also accelerate planning and development, as well as foster investors’ confidence.

“It will also bring to reality the vision of a transformed urban development of Ibadan and Oyo State as conceived by Gov. Seyi Makinde,” he said.

The commissioner equally stated that the council during the meeting also approved N7.1million to cover transportation subsidy for the period between March and August.

He recalled that in 2025 alone, over 4 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.

According to Oyelade, the state was one of the few states in the Federation that had continued to support the masses since the removal of the fuel subsidy

“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,” he added.

The commissioner further said that the state executive council in recognition of its strategic importance had released N26.4 billion for the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Okaka Junction–Otu–Igbeti–Kishi road and the construction of bridges over the Otu and Ofiki rivers.

“The council approved the expansion of this project by N3.9 billion,” Oyelade stated. (NAN)