Adebayo Adenrele
The Executive Council of Ekiti State Government has approved the payment of N301,980,608.11 as the second and last tranche of compensation to the remaining 377 claimants whose crops and structures were affected by the Airport acquisition process.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun at the end of State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday.
Olatunbosun maintained that while the current administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji is passionate about improving existing infrastructure and initiating new projects for economic advancement to the benefit of the people as enshrined in the Infrastructure and Industrial Development agenda of the administration, the State Government remains committed to ensuring that the original owners of crops and structures affected by the laudable projects are properly compensated.
The amount approved was premised on the report of the consultant, Jimosaf Resources Limited, engaged by the State Government to undertake the enumeration of affected properties.
Recall that the State Government under the immediate past Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi had in March, 2021 paid a sum of N500 million to 700 land owners whose lands were acquired for the Airport project.
To further ensure proper handling of the payment of the compensation, the State Executive Council constituted a committee tagged “Airport Land Compensation payment verification Committee” comprising the State Commissioner for Budget, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo; the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof. Bolaji Aluko; Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investments, Mrs. Tayo Adeola; Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, (BPP), Mr. James Folorunso and the Director General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery, Dr. Moyo Ekundayo.
The State Executive Council also approved N268,173,885 for the rehabilitation of the Housing Roundabout to Prison Junction road in Ado Ekiti.
The development is in fulfilment of the desire of the State Government to strategically maintain roads and ensure that main roads in the State capital and other major towns in the State are constantly in good condition and very motorable.
The job will be carried out through direct labour by the Ekiti State Public Works Corporation and expected to be completed within six months.