GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured landowners in Akilapa and Kuponiyi villages along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, of due compensation on all lands acquired for industrial purposes.
The lands to be acquired are to be used for the Pacesetter-Polaris Free Trade Zone project of the state government.
Ajimobi, through State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon Ajiboye Omodewu, gave this assurance in a meeting with the landowners on Tuesday.
Ajimobi, who noted that the lands were to be used for investment purposes, said the state government would offer requisite compensation once enumeration of properties was done.
He further stated that the acquisition of lands would enhance business and boost the state’s Internally generated revenue.
“We all need to make sacrifice for good things we desire. Government on its part is ready to pay compensation, but, there will be enumeration of properties as stipulated by law.”
“The request of the villagers on what will benefit them when the foreign companies start working is natural but the companies will abide with the corporate social responsibility code to establish hospitals, schools and other benefits, as is being done by corporate organizations in communities where they operate.”
“We implore our people to key into the vision of the government towards increasing employment opportunities and financial capacity through industrialization.”
The leader of the delegation from the two villages, Alhaji Rasaq Akilapa noted that the commercial hub in their villages through the Pacesetter-Polaris Free Trade Zone would be greatly beneficial to them.
He called on the government to speed up the enumeration process so as to pay the compensation, adding that, “the people of Akilapa and Kuponiyi where the Free Trade Zone and the industrial park are located are happy for the development, we know we will be the most benefitting party, our prayer is that the compensation payment be fast tracked.”
The State government went into collaboration with about 165 investors from China who were ready to stake multi million dollars in investments towards the Pacesetter-Polaris Free Trade Zone project in November 2016.