By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has said the Ibadan Circular Road project would not go beyond the 150 metre setback in developed communities, adding that necessary adjustments would be made in areas affected by the project.
He also reiterated that the government would ensure that property owners affected by the project are adequately compensated.
Makinde stated this during a visit to the Ologuneru axis of the ongoing 110-kilometre Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project to engage with property owners in the area.
The engagement, which lasted hours, saw the governor listening to representatives of the property owners, assuring them that his government would not fail the people of the state.
Makinde also noted that all issues relating to the setback and development corridor would be resolved before the expiration of his administration in 2027.
The governor noted that the Circular Road is a rapid transfer network that must comply with the highway code for standard road setback.
He said, “You installed this government. And if for over the past six plus years, this government did not fail you, it means we would still not fail you.
“This particular point we are at is right inside the road corridor. A road is supposed to be here, but these are houses already built around it. When most governors get to the point where I am, they stop doing any project, because they know they are leaving soon. What this means is that the problem would be transferred to the next administration.
“You, the people of Oyo State, and God brought me to this office, and I am accountable to you. If there are issues and we say we have solved them, they will definitely disappear. But if we have not solved them, they will reappear, and we will have another go at it.
“The Circular Road has three segments – the first is from Technical University to Ibadan-Ife Road at Badeku, which is 32km. We are constructing the road and, within the next three months, we would have been done. We had this particular challenge there too but we were able to resolve it.
“I am glad that you are organised here, but what we need is mutual understanding. I told the ministry involved that in built-up areas like this, we would stay within 150 metres, and you fence off the point, because it is a rapid transfer network. The minimum speed that a car can move on it is 80 – 100km per hour.
“There is a highway code for setbacks and even for a single lane road, that is a federal highway, it is 50 metres. So, if they are marking beyond 150 metres, it should be disregarded. If they mark your house outside the 150 metres, disregard it.
“What this administration can do is to ensure that the second segment is completed, which is from Badeku to Moniya, which is 40 km. We are currently constructing bridges and other hydraulic structures, and I do hope that this administration will be able to complete that.
“But from Moniya to Tech U, through this point, it is another administration that would complete that.
“Personally, what I intend to do is to compensate those who are due for it. I am offering myself to solve our problems as much as possible. We all belong to this state. We might have challenges, but we will always look at how to solve them.”
Makinde commended the residents of the 38 communities affected by the project for cooperating with his government to address the issues.
He added that 10 people would be nominated from the affected property owners to form a committee that would work closely with the New Towns and Cities Development Authority, which is the authorised agency directly in charge of the Circular Road corridor.
The governor said, “I am happy that you have a strong association here. The decision I have taken is that you will only need to be dealing with the New Town and Cities Development Authority. They will set up a team, and you will set up yours. The Ministry would no longer be involved.
“No house will be demolished without any compensation. I am not the most perfect human being. So, wherever there are issues, we are ready to listen to you. This is your government. In any built-up area, we won’t go beyond the setback. That is exactly what we did in Badeku.
“I want to believe that all of you, who spoke here, represent the interests of everybody that is present here. So, I can assure you that we will solve this problem and won’t leave it for another administration.”
