The Oyo State Government has disbursed over ₦5.35bn in compensation to 578 property owners affected by the first segment of the Ibadan Circular Road project.

The Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on New Towns and Cities, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi, disclosed this while providing an update on the compensation exercise.

The update was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan on Sunday.

The first segment of the project covers 32.2 kilometres, stretching from the Abiola Ajimobi Technical University axis along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Oluyole Local Government Area, passing through Ona Ara and terminating at Badeku Junction on the Ibadan-Ife Expressway in Egbeda Local Government Area.

The compensation exercise covers two categories: properties within the project's right-of-way and those initially omitted from the enumeration process.

Under the right-of-way category, which covers properties within 75 metres on either side of the road median, 674 structures were identified.

The state government approved ₦3.86bn for compensation in this category, following Governor Makinde's decision to reduce the initial 150-metre setback to 75 metres in clustered and built-up areas after appeals from affected residents.

Adebiyi said 411 claimants had appeared before the screening committee, while 378 had completed the required documentation, executed their deeds of indemnity and received payment.

For the omission category, a fresh enumeration exercise conducted by the New Towns and Cities Development Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Office of the Surveyor-General, identified 251 affected structures.

The government approved ₦1.81bn for compensation under this category. Of the 216 property owners who appeared before the screening committee, 200 completed the necessary documentation and received a total of ₦1.49bn.

Adebiyi said 578 property owners across both categories had so far received compensation, adding that the exercise remained ongoing to ensure all eligible claimants were paid.

She noted that 263 claimants in the right-of-way category and 35 in the omission category had yet to appear before the committee, while other applicants were still expected to complete their documentation.

She also disclosed that 16 payment transactions had failed because of discrepancies between the names provided during screening and the beneficiaries' bank account details. Efforts were being made to resolve the issues.

The adviser maintained that the process had been transparent and fair, assuring affected property owners that payments would continue in line with established procedures.

The state government said the disbursement reflected its commitment to implementing major infrastructure projects while ensuring that residents whose properties were affected received appropriate compensation.