Makinde mulls compensation, resettlement options
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced plans to engage with residents affected by the ongoing construction of 110kilometres Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road Project, beginning on Wednesday. The governor stated that he would visit the project site, listen to residents’ concerns, and explore possibilities, including adequate compensation and resettlement.
Presenting the 2026 Budget Proposal to the House of Assembly, Makinde emphasised his commitment to running a people-centered government. “We acknowledge that progress must be people-centered. And we remain committed to ensuring that development remains fair, humane, and inclusive,” he said. Makinde clarified that his administration did not carry out any acquisition on the project, revealing that the previous government had acquired 500 metres each to the right and left of the project, as published in a November 2018 edition of a national daily.
The governor stressed that the Circular Road Project is about equity, growth, and shared prosperity for the state, warning politicians seeking to profit from the controversy to have a rethink. “The Circular Road is not just about connectivity; it is about equity, growth, and shared prosperity. I was forced to release from the archive a document that shows adverts in the Nigerian Tribune newspaper newspaper,’ he added. Makinde assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise institutional legacy.
“Our focus has been to shift towards institutional legacies, ensuring that governance is system-based, not personality-based. “In Oyo State, we don’t want strong men, we want strong institutions, and we have created some of those; including OYACA (Oyo State Agency for the Control of Aids) and the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.”
The governor emphasised that the state is moving from a consumptive economy to a productive one, saying, “We need industries. Our children are coming out of school; we need commercial solid minerals exploration in Oyo State.” Makinde further assured residents that his administration would not fail them, saying, “We have not failed you in over six years and we will not fail you now. You have stood firm through difficult times. You have trusted the process and believed in the vision. You have demonstrated beyond what I can even fathom. We are not a government that repays good with bad. Together, we will continue to grow, innovate, and prosper.”