Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is revolutionising the real estate sector of the state, especially the state’s capital, Ibadan. Since he came on board in 2019, the governor’s revolutionary cursor in that sector has touched about twenty abandoned sites, out of which some have been fully developed into housing estates while work is ongoing on others. The beauty of these projects is that the government is not committing physical cash into them, they are through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
This radical approach according to government is nothing but to address the housing deficit, as well as to develop and generate more revenue for the state.
However, while the governor’s policy on the housing estates is seen as a welcome development in some quarters, it has come under a serious criticism by others. Those who are against the conversion of public lands to private residential estates have argued that it’s of no benefit to the commoners. Their argument is based not only on the exorbitant costs of the highbrow estates but also the implications of turning heritage sites in Ibadan to residential estates.
Sighted as example are 2 major public lands that were previously converted to residential estates; the old Airport at Samonda which was turned to Aerodrome GRA and agricultural reserve at Akobo/Monatan turned Kolapo Ishola GRA and Carlton Gate Estate. The agricultural reserve was said to have been acquired by the administration of the late former governor Kolapo Ishola over thirty years ago. It was acquired, according to reports, to foster urban agriculture and serve as a pedestal to supply Ibadan with perishable edible items. They believe the estates were developed for the rich. They also believe the public lands at strategic locations could have been used for more pressing infrastructural and institutional developments.
Just of recent, the Commissioner of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, had to came out and explained better on government’s plans concerning Agodi Gardens. Akin-Funmilayo while conducting journalists around the proposed estate said, it’s never part of government plans to overrun Agodi Botanical Gardens but the 46.3 hectares of forest behind it, which is to be converted to Baywood Housing Estate.
According to him, government has decided to turn the abandoned land to a housing estate because it has become a hideout for hoodlums, thieves, kidnappers and perpetrators of many heinous acts, not only in the night but also in broad daylight. In fact, the controversy surrounding the conversion of Agodi Gardens land to estate degenerated last week when protesters and officials of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management (OYRTMA) had a serious confrontation on the land. The protest was said to be against the deforestation of Agodi Phase 2 of the Ogunpa Forest Reserve. Where the government is planning to have a housing estate. Below, however, is the list of ten popular areas the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration in Oyo State is converting to residential housing estates.
BCOS LAND
This was the very first public land to be converted to housing estate by the Makinde-led administration in Oyo. The land belonging to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) is located at Bashorun. It is a large expanse of vacant land within the premises of the state-owned media house. Though, the decision was initially protested against by BCOS workers but the estate is today a beauty to behold. It is called Engineer Lere Adigun G R A Basorun.
ARCEDEM OLODO
African Regional Centre for Engineering Design and Manufacture (ARCEDEM) at Olodo is another popular location that has been converted to housing estate. It’s called Rayfield Gardens City Estate. ARCEDEM, conceived in 1980, was established to design, develop and adapt prototypes of agricultural machinery.
TRADEFAIR GROUND SAMONDA
If you are familiar with Ibadan very well, especially those who grew in the ancient city around 80s and 90s, you must have heard of Expoyo Trade Fair. The land used to be Trade Fair Grounds under the Oyo State Ministry of Commerce & Industry. It was initially given to The African Housing Company Limited and WEMABOD Estates Limited to build as a community market. But it has since been converted to housing estate called AEROVIEW Dollar Estate, Ibadan.
TRANS AMUSEMENT PARK BODIJA
Like the story of Tradefair Ground, the defunct Trans Amusement Park, Bódìjà, Ibadan is another heritage site in the ancient city. This is where some now grown men and women had their fun as kids. The about 67 acres of land has been given to a real estate developer to turn to housing estate.
AGODI GARDENS FOREST
As earlier stated in this report, Agodi Gardens Forest is a government reserve. It will now give way to a residential estate. The land which the estate will be situated on covers 46.3 hectares while Agodi Gardens is 9.11 hectares. The government has also promised to retain 80 percent of the trees in the forest as it understands the negetve impact of deforestation.
LATEEF
OYELADE GRA
This new estate is named after late Ibadan Senior Chief, Alhaji Lateef Oyelade. It is on an expanse of land beside Adeoyo State Hospital, Off MKO Way (formerly Ring Road). It is located within Omololu Olunloyo GRA.
SENATOR RASHIDI ADEWOLU LADOJA GRA
Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja GRA is located at Akilapa Village, Opp Aramed Hospital, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan. Unlike others, this estate is a direct project of the Oyo State government. The 10,724.739m GRA will contain residential homes and other facilities, according to government. Construction work on the project kicked off in September, 2022.
GLADYS ADUKE OMOLEWA
VAUGHAN GRA
Another government’s housing project is Gladys Aduke Omolewa Vaughan GRA at Alafara area of Ibadan. The estate is named after the late foremost educationist and founder of Omolewa School, Chief (Mrs) Gladys Aduke Vaughan. The project will commence this year.
Other housing estate projects of the Oyo State Government are Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho GRA at Iroko, Ibadan-Oyo Expressway, Ibadan and Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajumobi GRA at Sogunro, Ibadan-Oyo Expressway, Ibadan.
-Dare Adeniran
08057639079
