Ekiti Disburses N155.4m to Property Owners for Ikere-Akure Road Project

 Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji distributed cheques totaling N155.4 million on Monday, April 28, 2025, to 78 property owners whose lands and structures were acquired for the dualization of the Ikere-Akure Road, a key infrastructure project aimed at boosting connectivity and economic activity. 

The ceremony, held in Ado-Ekiti, compensated affected residents in Ikere Ekiti, with amounts ranging from N500,000 to N5 million based on property valuations, as reported by The Guardian Nigeria and Daily Post Nigeria. The initiative reflects Oyebanji’s commitment to fair compensation and timely project delivery.

The Ikere-Akure Road dualization, spanning 14 kilometers, is part of a N12 billion contract awarded in 2023 to improve traffic flow and safety on a critical route linking Ekiti to Ondo State. The project, 60% complete as of April 2025, involves expanding the road to four lanes, constructing drainage systems, and installing streetlights, per the Ekiti State Ministry of Works. The acquisition of 120 hectares affected homes, shops, and farmlands, prompting protests in 2024 until Oyebanji pledged prompt payments. The N155.4 million, sourced from the state’s 2025 infrastructure budget, followed a rigorous assessment by the state’s Bureau of Lands, ensuring transparency.

Oyebanji, addressing recipients, urged cooperation with contractors to meet the project’s December 2025 completion deadline, emphasizing its potential to attract investors and reduce travel time by 30%, per Vanguard Nigeria. The Commissioner for Works, Adesola Adebayo, confirmed that additional payments are planned for 50 more claimants by June, with N80 million already budgeted. Beneficiaries, including farmers and traders, expressed relief, though some requested vocational support to offset livelihood losses, a proposal under review by the state’s Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency.

The project aligns with Ekiti’s broader infrastructure goals, with N50 billion allocated for roads in 2025, per the state’s appropriation law. The dualization is expected to boost Ekiti’s GDP by 2%, driven by increased trade and tourism, per a 2024 economic impact study. Oyebanji’s administration, which has completed 25 road projects since 2022, is leveraging federal partnerships to fund similar initiatives. The compensation effort sets a precedent for balancing development with community welfare, as Ekiti aims to become a regional hub for commerce and agriculture.