The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reshaping the state’s urban renewal through a coordinated, technology-driven development framework championed by the Oyo State New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA).
This came during a press briefing held on Tuesday at the Governor’s Office Conference Room, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, where the Executive Adviser on New Towns and Cities Development Authority, Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi, provided clarification on the agency’s mandate, ongoing work and the government’s vision for smarter, more inclusive communities.
Recall that governor Seyi Makinde had last week led a high level state government delegation to an open engagement with affected property owners in Ido and Oluyole local government following a protest against the 500 meters Circular Road Corridor.
While dousing their concerns, the governor explained that his administration will make necessary reviews and adjustments where area covered by the project has been densely populated, assuring that all affected property owners will be adequately compensated.
Speaking, Adebiyi revealed that her agency has engaged with stakeholders and affected property owners at a town hall meeting earlier on Tuesday in Akinyele Local Government prior to the briefing stressing for deepened inclusivity as the project progresses.
Adebiyi explained that the agency was established in April 2025 following a pronouncement by Governor Seyi Makinde to streamline how towns and cities expand in line with the vision for the urbanization agenda.
“The authority was created with a single aim of transforming the urban landscape of Oyo State, our assignment looks beyond today. It is futuristic,” she said.
She outlined the agency’s core responsibility as designing and guiding expansion in Ibadan and other major towns through a scientifically informed blueprint that considers population patterns, migration trends, economic shifts and the influence of neighbouring states.
“Our primary responsibility is to deliver smart, inclusive and resilient urban solutions to improve lives, unlock economic opportunities and raise the standard of living for our people. That is why we say we are building tomorrow’s Oyo today,” she added.
Adebiyi gave instances of two flagship assignments currently underway. She said the first of the flagship projects is the 110-kilometre circular road encircling Ibadan, which she noted has passed through multiple administrations unsuccessfully saying: “I’m happy to say that this administration has taken the bull by the horn. The first 32.2 kilometres of the circular road have been opened and are already being developed.”
She described the corridor as a planned mixed-use zone that will host residential, industrial, commercial and recreational hubs.
In her words: “Economic activities should drive living and recreation. And development must be inclusive. High, medium and low-income earners will all have a place within this corridor.”
The second pilot project is a new business district positioned around the state’s evolving transport infrastructure, including the upgraded airport, the Lagos–Ibadan rail line and ongoing pipeline networks noting that “It is expedient for the state to prepare for the future, and the future is now.
Responding to questions from newsmen, Adebiyi stressed that community engagement has been consistent and will intensify. “Advocacy is not a one-off activity. It is a process, we have held several town hall meetings with affected communities and we will continue to do so,” she explained.
While maintaining that the agency has been busy making frantic efforts to get accurate data to guide its operations, she acknowledged that there had been protests and resistance during data-collection exercises, but said tensions were easing off already due to consistent engagements.
According to her, an inter-ministerial committee, affected local government chairmen, community representatives and mortgages are all part of a structured engagement framework.
Adebiyi also addressed concerns about compensation for affected residents. She explained that detailed assessments are still ongoing for the wider corridor, while compensation for the first 32.2 kilometres has been paid on the right of way.
“Best practices are being applied but government agencies must be allowed access to the field to determine accurate valuation,” Adebiyi pleaded.
She equally confirmed the controversial case of a homeowner who reportedly received 400,000 naira for a 3-bedroom duplex, describing it as an error.
“Yes, that person was underpaid. His Excellency has directed that the case be revisited. We believe there was a mix-up and it is being reviewed.”
She added that the government may publish compensation lists in newspapers to strengthen transparency and public confidence.
Adebiyi explained the legally defined development corridor around the circular road saying: “The road comes with 500 metres on both sides of the median, making one kilometre in total. But in heavily developed areas, this has been reduced to 150 metres on each side to minimise displacement to the barest minimum,” she explained further.
She expressed concerns over falsified survey documents, saying many fraudulent papers originate outside government while assuring that with the new technology driven approach, such cases would be adequately addressed.
“There is a lot of foul play around documentation. Some survey numbers do not even match the land they claim to describe,” She added.
She noted that the authority’s shift to automated, e-governance systems will make such abuses far more difficult for anyone attempting to evade the laid down process. “When you introduce automation, fake documentation becomes difficult to insert into the system,” she said.
Adebiyi confirmed that Oyo State has keyed into the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and is already advancing plans for a free trade zone.
She said the initiatives are meant to make doing business easier in Oyo State adding that the investment promotion agency is taking the lead, but many of the processes will support investor confidence.
She spoke briefly about other development plan, which includes light and high-intensity industrial hubs, commercial spaces, mixed-use clusters, residential areas, green zones and recreation centers.
Adebiyi called for patience and cooperation from residents and all stakeholders.
In her words, “There will be reasons to sacrifice and to shift but we must look beyond the immediate. This work is for the benefit of our children and even the yet unborn.”
She emphasised that OYNTCDA will continue its work across all major towns in the state and will sustain public engagement at every stage saying: “Oyo State belongs to all of us. Everyone has a stake and everyone must be carried along.”