By DAVID ADEOYE

No fewer than 193 property owners, whose lands were acquired by Oyo State Government for the construction of Ibadan Circular Road, have received N780 million as compensation.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, made this known on Thursday in Ibadan, shortly after presentation of cheques to the forth batch of beneficiaries.

Akin-Funmilayo explained that a total number of 298 affected property owners were captured for monetary compensation, “but 193 affected persons have been duly compensated”.

He said that the 193 individuals have received cheques from the state government through the ministry.

“Today’s event is the fourth round of compensation payments for the affected property owners on the first segment of the Road project, out of the four segments that make up the 110km Ibadan Circular Road,” he said.

However, the commissioner explained that 105 property owners were yet to receive their payments, saying screening procedures to ascertain and authenticate the genuineness of their identity was still pending.

“We are still expecting them to come forward for screening so that we can effect their payment,” he stated.

Akin-Funmilayo clarified that the screening process was designed to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries were compensated.

The commissioner further explained that “while the total liability for compensation stands at about N988 million, the government has already disbursed N780 million.

“We still have some leftover funds in our account to complete the compensation exercise,” he added.

Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mrs Funmi Kolawole, expressed gratitude to the state government for fulfilling its promise on time.

Kolawole urged government to ensure that all other affected property owners on the acquired land were captured and compensated. (NAN)