Date: 2017-04-13

KWARA State Government has declared that it would soon begin the payment of compensation to the owners of property and structures marked for demolition ahead of the commencement of the dualisation of Kulende/ University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital/Oke- Ose Road in Ilorin. This is even as it vowed to turn back any owner represented by proxy whenever payment begins.

The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Aro Yahaya, who made the declaration at a meeting with owners of structures earmarked for demolition, insisted that compensation will be paid directly to the affected owners. Yahaya said the decision to pay compensation was at the behest of Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, who maintained that nobody must be subjected to hardship in the event that the project takes off.

The commissioner disclosed that the exercise is a replica of what was done when Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Underpass was about to begin. He assured that government would listen to whoever has genuine complaints among the affected structure owners.

The commissioner noted that a veteran estate valuer was engaged to know the amount of money to be paid to each of the structure owner, adding that government is being fair to all.

Speaking on the dualisation, Yahaya disclosed that the stretch of the project was extended to Oke-Ose, which was initially set to terminate at UTIH due to a sharp bend around Oke-Ose.

The commissioner, however, urged residents and property owners affected by the project to cooperate and show understanding with the contractor to ensure that the project has what he called "rancour free execution".