The Ekiti State Government has approved the payment of a sum 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.
Ekiti News reports that 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.
The State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, disclosed this in a statement after the State Executive Council meeting held at the Executive Council Chamber, New Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, 30th May, 2024.
According to the statement, the present 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 Commissioner stressed that the State Government remains committed to ensuring that the original owners of crops and structures affected by the laudable projects are properly compensated.
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.