Ajimobi Seeks Cooperation On Property Enumeration

Governor Ajimobi has sought the cooperation of landowners in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state, as the government begins the enumeration of properties on government acquired land.

The governor made the appeal in Ibadan at meeting with the landowners at the conference hall of Oluyole Local Government Council on Wednesday.

The government had acquired several kilometres of land in the area for its Pacesetter-Polaris Free Trade Zone project.

Ajimobi, who was represented by Mr Isaac Omodewu, the State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey, urged the community leaders to support the government's initiative as it would be beneficial to the citizens of the state.

He pledged that all the landowners, whose lands were acquired for the project, would be adequately compensated after taking due cognisance of the properties and cash crops on the acquired land.

Ajimobi, who said that the land had been acquired since 2005 while compensation was paid to some landowners, stressed that his administration was ready to compensate those landowners who had yet to be paid.

He gave the assurance that community members would be given priority consideration in terms of employment opportunities in the free trade zone, while social amenities would also be provided for the communities.

The governor also said about 20 villages, within the proposed project location, had been acquired, adding that village owners would be compensated after the proper enumeration of their property.

He assured the landowners that another meeting would be convened very soon, where methods of compensation would be discussed and adopted.

Some community heads and landowners at the meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the acquisition of the land, calling on the government to leave out their properties and residential quarters in the acquired areas.

Mr Olalekan Oladipupo, a representative of the residents of Abanla village, said that they were not really happy with the acquisition of their land, saying they were mainly farmers, whose means of livelihood had been affected.

Chief Bakare Ojo-Ekun, the Agbaakin of Ogundele village, nonetheless, extolled the governor for his efforts to industrialise the state but advised him to consider the people's welfare.

"We have nearly 40 villages in Oluyole Local Government Area. What we are asking for is that government should leave part of the land to us, particularly the section containing our property and residential buildings,'' he said.