Ilu Tuntun Business District: Some Developed Communities Won’t Be Affected, Oyo Govt Assures Settlers

The Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, allayed fears of Structure owners /Croppers over the proposed construction of the Ilutun Business District, assuring that provisions have been made to ensure due process and resettlement process.

The State Commissioner for lands and urban development, Hon. AkinFunmilayo Williams, gave the assurance during a meeting held at the State’s Secretariat.

Present at the meeting were representatives of the Government led by the commissioner; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Mrs. M. O Adebiyi, Directors. Also, HRH, Alakinyele of Akinyele, HRH, Onijaye of Ijaye land, Baale, Olorisa Oko and other traditional rulers, community leaders and some affected landowners from Akinyele Local Government and environs.

The meeting was convened at the instance of Governor Seyi Makinde to assuage reservations of the affected Structure owners for relocation.

The commissioner, in his words, explained that the meeting was held to engage all stakeholders from the community to look into the project aimed at providing an expanded opportunity to the state and Akinyele local government area in particular.

While providing an insight into the enumeration and relocation of communities, he explained that the government will consider resettlement for communities impacted.

“The government has implemented plans for the formal acquisition of 3,450 hectares of lands. It is imperative to understand that the state government will not, in any way, inconvenient anyone. Some communities including Alabata, Ajibade, Oloje, Olorisha Oko, which are to be integrated on areas of over 400 hectares.

“While some smaller communities will be relocated and resettled, lands occupied by smaller communities will be needed for the Ilu tutun Business District project.

“The project is in collaboration with International investors, which will be housing the Dry Port, rail station, and other modern business hubs, making Akinyele the ‘Small London’ in recent times.

“The project was conceived as part of efforts of the Governor Makinde’s administration to achieve all round development, particularly in the area of infrastructure. The project will secure access to Ibadan dry port, railway line and the Ibadan circular roads for direct access to all parts of the State, which will further attract investors and turn the State into an industrial hub.”

“The economic benefits are many, and the good thing is that the human convenience is incalculable. The focus is to develop good road networks so that people, goods, and services could move quickly and efficiently in and around the State”, he concluded.