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What He Has Done In The Last 7 Years
Since he came onboard some four years ago, one sector that the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has paid utmost attention to is housing and real estate. In fact, the state’s capital, Ibadan, has practically turned into a real estate hub and the new bride for private investors in the sector.
The transformation is phenomenal, so much so that hardly any prime area in the ancient city is without developments/constructions in terms of real estate, including new areas that are being opened up on the outskirts of Ibadan. All these are happening because of Governor Makinde’s brilliant policies, particularly the private sector-driven approach.
A good number of Estates/GRAs have been developed, and several others are springing up rapidly through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
This is in fulfillment of Governor Makinde’s campaign promise prior to 2019 election and as also restated in his inaugural speech to address the issue of housing deficit head-on in other to provide an affordable housing to all and sudry in the state.
In 2020, barely a year after he came to power, Governor Makinde flagged off the construction of 360 Housing Units at the Ajoda New Town Estate, located on the New Ibadan-Ife Expressway.
The project which is in partnership between the state government and a private real estate firm was estimated to be about N2.5 billion and covers approximately 13 hectares of land.
It’s a low-to-medium cost housing project featuring two and three-bedroom semi-detached and detached houses.
Other housing projects that were undertaken during Governor Makinde’s first term included 45 units housing project at Bodija Premium Housing Estate, Ibadan; a 12 units 5-bedroom townhouses project at Kommi Prime Estate, Bodija, Ibadan; the Trans Motel at Jericho Ibadan that was converted to 114 apartments housing development, just to mention but a few.
But how was Governor Makinde able to achieve all these in the housing industry? The Governor’s approach was simple and strategic. The first major step taken by the Makinde-led administration was to make the process of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) easier. The government made sure that the land administration process to issue C of O was reformed to the shortest time possible.
The government has not only created an enabling environment for real estate investors but has also ramped up its urban renewal efforts and smart city initiatives. These measures aim to accommodate Ibadan’s growing population and enhance real estate development.
This unprecedented reform has boosted the confidence of investors and property owners, attracting over N35 billion in real estate investments to the state in the last five years of Governor Makinde’s administration.
According to Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development in the state in an interview, opening of new GRAs, digitisation of land allocation, property search has grown Oyo State revenue.
Akin-Funmilayo noted in the interview that his ministry recorded increased revenue generation in the last two years of Omituntun 2.0, contributing the sum of N4.8 billion to the state’s coffers in 2023, while it achieved N6.1 billion in 2024, with the 2025 revenue generation as of May 15 standing at N3.2 billion.
All these, he said, were made possible as result of Governor Makinde’s visionary leadership and brilliant initiative including digitisation of land allocation and title documents, electronic allocation letters, deployment of online allocation and plot selection on the Ministry of Lands’ website www.lands.oyostate.gov.ng, as well as an amnesty programme for building permits and deployment of an online building permit platform.
He said about 15 GRAs have been created through the public-private partnership model.
He listed the GRAs being opened up by the state government and are completed or under construction as Engr. Lere Adigun GRA (completed), while the Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja GRA, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi GRA, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala GRA, Chief Lateef Oyelade GRA, Signature Estate, Woodland Estate, Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho GRA, Baywood Gardens, Hon. Akinremi Jagaban GRA, Kolapo Ishola Land Phase II Extension, Akobo, Mokola Hill Top GRA, Tonabim Estate, Oyo GRA and Ogbomoso GRA are all under construction.
The Governor’s housing initiatives have also been integrated with broader infrastructure projects, including the construction of major road networks. One such project is the Ibadan Circular Road, named after the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.
This 110km road has significantly increased accessibility and the economic value of properties. The 32km first phase of the project, known as the South-East Wing, running from the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to Badeku village on the Ibadan-Ile Ife expressway, is expected to be delivered soon.
But of course as expected, as beautiful and gratifying as Governor Makinde’s urban renewal initiatives are, they have also come under serious criticism, especially as being witnessed lately on the issue between owners of the affected properties around the Ibadan circular road and the government.
There were protests in that regard recently. The state government is accused of expanding the original 75-metres (on each side) right-of-way that was legally acquired in 2005 under the administration of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, to a significantly larger area, in some cases up to 500 meters or 850 meters on each side.
The property owners argue this expansion is unconstitutional and violates due process.
It is said that the expansion and subsequent demolition exercises have rendered many residents homeless and caused significant hardship.
While the government has disbursed some compensation, many property owners claim the amounts offered are a pittance compared to the actual value of their properties. They argue the compensation process is opaque and does not follow fair market principles.
This is as some residents insist that the current administration did not follow the proper legal and constitutional procedures for the additional land acquisition and failed to consult adequately with the communities before marking the new areas for demolition.
Some owners even allege that the expanded land corridor is intended for allocation to private real estate developers rather than solely for public road development, describing the government’s actions as a form of land grabbing.
There is also another claim by some landowners that even the compensation promised during the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration for the original corridor was never fully paid.
Responding to the whole issue however, the Oyo State government insists the project is within approved plans and that all genuine property owners will be duly and adequately compensated after a thorough screening process.
The government has also set up a committee to address the grievances and find a lasting solution, with Governor Seyi Makinde promising not to exceed the 150-meter setback in already built-up area.
In a recent meeting with the community members whose properties fall within the Ologuneru axis of the ongoing 110km Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project, Governor Makinde assured property owners of adequate compensation.
Makinde, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said all issues relating to the setback and development corridor would be resolved before his administration ends in 2027.
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 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 which 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 setback 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 would 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.
“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 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 interest 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.”
-Dare Adeniran
08057639079
