By Chris Chimezie
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Ondo State Government has assured property owners along the ‘A’ Division-Ijoka road, Akure which is being dualised, of due compensation, either with or without Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

This is sequel to the commencement of work on the dualisation of the road as the contractor handling the project has moved equipment to site.

The State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, (SAN), disclosed this during an inspection visit to the Akure High Court Complex, where some structures have been demolished to kick-start the  project.

Chairman of the Corridor Aquisition Committee of the project and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Engr. Alex Aragbaye, said the government is acquiring 40 meters of the road corridors.

He said: “To fully accommodate the road dualisation project, government will be acquiring 20 meters from both left and right of the road corridors.

“We have identified all property owners, have done the valuation and are convinced that what we are paying would be adequate and people will be happy about it.

“The most interesting factor here is that whether such properties have “C of O” or not, whether they have approved building plans or not, compensations will be duly paid”, he assured.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works,  Engr. Taiwo Otun, noted that the dualisation project is long overdue.

He said the dualization would be done in phases from ‘A’ Division to Olukayode Roundabout and to Ijoka. He added that the road has two spots; one would be from Olukayode building to Alafiatayo Roundabout, while the other spot would start from Oluwatuyi to Investment junction in Akure.

The Permanent Secretary said after several stakeholders meeting, it was agreed that the project execution should commence.

“We have held series of meetings publicly and others, in private with stakeholders which included traditional rulers after which it was agreed that the project execution be carried out”, he said

He said the contractor is starting with the demolition of government owned structures to set out  corridors for the dualization.

“What we are doing now is to acquire the required corridors, so that we can set out the road and we are starting with government structures within the state High Court.

“Before now, time has been given, we have gone on air to enable the owners of the affected  properties go ahead and salvage what they think are still useful to them before the demolition exercise is fully carried out”, he stated.

Accompanying Governor Akeredolu to inspect the take off of the road dualisation project are; Commissioner for Works, Mr Taofeek Abdusalam and Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engr Raheem Aminu.