Party urges Oyo Government to combine infrastructure development with dignity, justice and sustainable resettlement for displaced property owners
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Oyo State Chapter, has called on the Oyo State Government, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, to adopt a comprehensive and people-centred resettlement programme for residents and property owners affected by the ongoing Circular Road project.
While acknowledging the importance of the Circular Road as a major infrastructure project capable of improving connectivity, stimulating economic activities and opening up new areas for development, the party maintained that the pursuit of infrastructure must not come at the expense of the dignity, homes and livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
According to the ADC, government has the legitimate responsibility to acquire land and execute projects that serve the public interest, but such interventions should equally be guided by fairness, compassion and a clear policy for the protection and resettlement of genuinely affected families.
ABONDE ESTATE: A PRECEDENT WORTH REVIVING
The party drew attention to what it described as a practical precedent in Oyo State's history during the military administration of Col. Ahmed Usman, when the redesign of Oremeji Agugu reportedly resulted in the use of Abonde Estate as a settlement area for some affected house owners.
For ADC, the experience demonstrates that government-led urban development and the welfare of displaced citizens do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Rather than simply removing structures and leaving affected families to navigate the housing market on their own, government can identify suitable public land, develop organised housing schemes and provide affected residents with a structured pathway to resettlement.
The party is therefore asking the present administration to consider adapting that principle to the realities of the Circular Road project.
“WHY CAN’T THE GOVERNMENT DO IT AGAIN?”
ADC is challenging the Oyo State Government to identify suitable government-owned land within or around the affected Local Government Areas and develop affordable housing units specifically for genuinely affected property owners.
The party believes that a transparent assessment mechanism should be established to determine the nature and value of properties lost by affected residents.
Such an assessment, according to the proposal, would ensure that resettlement is not arbitrary but based on clear criteria, verified documentation and the actual impact of the acquisition on each family.
Under the proposed model, qualified beneficiaries could be accommodated in government-developed housing units under affordable and clearly defined tenancy arrangements, while paying applicable tenement rates, service charges and other legitimate statutory obligations.
This would provide an alternative that goes beyond one-off compensation and addresses the fundamental question confronting displaced families:
“Where do we live after our homes are taken for public infrastructure?”
FROM COMPENSATION TO COMPREHENSIVE RESETTLEMENT
ADC argues that compensation remains important, but compensation alone may not adequately address the long-term consequences of displacement, particularly where property owners have lived on their land for decades or where the cost of acquiring comparable housing has significantly increased.
A resettlement programme would provide a more sustainable solution.
It would also allow government to plan new settlements from the outset with essential infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water supply, electricity, sanitation, schools and other community facilities.
Rather than allowing displaced families to scatter into unplanned settlements, government would have an opportunity to create properly designed communities that complement the broader objectives of the Circular Road project.
A WIN-WIN APPROACH FOR GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS
According to ADC, an organised resettlement policy can create benefits for both the government and affected communities.
For affected property owners, it provides a dignified housing alternative and greater certainty about their future.
For government, it ensures that public land is put to productive use while creating opportunities for sustainable revenue through legitimate tenement rates, service charges and other applicable fees.
For new communities, it creates an opportunity for planned development with better infrastructure and coordinated urban expansion.
For the Circular Road project, it strengthens public confidence and demonstrates that infrastructure development can be pursued without abandoning the people whose properties make the project possible.
ADC CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY
The party also urged the Oyo State Government to establish a transparent process for identifying genuinely affected persons.
Such a process, ADC said, should involve proper documentation, physical verification, valuation of affected properties and clear eligibility criteria.
The party cautioned against a situation where deserving property owners could be excluded, while calling for the process to be open enough to prevent manipulation, favouritism or political interference.
ADC maintained that every affected family deserves to know what it is entitled to, where it stands and what arrangements government is making for its future.
DEVELOPMENT MUST NOT MEAN DISPLACEMENT
ADC emphasised that it is not opposed to the Circular Road project or development generally.
Rather, the party said its position is that development must be inclusive.
A road is important, but so is the home of the family whose property is acquired for that road.
A modern city requires infrastructure, but it also requires policies that protect vulnerable citizens during the process of urban transformation.
The party therefore urged the Makinde administration to see the Circular Road project as an opportunity not only to build infrastructure but also to establish a model for responsible urban development in Oyo State.
ADC is consequently challenging the Oyo State Government to look beyond demolition, acquisition and compensation and embrace a comprehensive resettlement framework.
The party proposes that government should:
Identify suitable government-owned lands in affected areas.
Develop affordable housing schemes for genuinely displaced property owners.
Conduct transparent valuation and verification of affected properties.
Establish clear eligibility criteria for beneficiaries.
Provide affordable tenancy arrangements for qualified beneficiaries.
Equip new settlements with basic infrastructure and public amenities.
Maintain transparent records of beneficiaries and allocations.
Allow residents to meet applicable tenement rates and legitimate statutory obligations.
Ensure that the resettlement process is implemented alongside the infrastructure project.
ADC believes this approach can transform a potentially painful displacement process into an opportunity to create better-planned communities and a more inclusive model of urban development.
“BUILD THE ROAD, BUT DON’T DISPLACE THE PEOPLE”
The party called on Governor Seyi Makinde and relevant government agencies to engage affected communities, listen to their concerns and consider a structured resettlement programme before the project creates a permanent housing crisis for families whose properties are acquired.
The Abonde Estate experience, ADC noted, should serve as a reminder that government can pursue major urban projects while simultaneously providing alternative accommodation for citizens affected by such projects.
The party therefore urged the government to adapt the principle to present-day realities rather than allowing affected residents to bear the full burden of urban development.
Circular Road should connect communities, expand economic opportunities and modernise Oyo State. But it should also connect development with justice, compassion and human dignity.
ADC's position is simple:
Build the Circular Road. Build affordable homes. Resettle the affected. Generate sustainable revenue. Protect the people.
Let the Circular Road become a symbol of progress — not a legacy of displacement.
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