The Oyo State Government has solicited the cooperation of land owners whose properties have been earmarked for the new Ibadan Inland Dry Port to ensure realisation of the project.
The new inland port and rail line project is to be sited on 300 hectares of land in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state
Mr Abdu-Raheem Abiodun, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, made the appeal on Thursday in Ibadan at a meeting with traditional rulers from the local government.
Abiodun, who pleaded with the monarchs to prevail on the inhabitants of the area not to scuttle the planned enumeration of original land owners, said that government had concluded arrangements to start the enumeration process.
He assured the traditional rulers that the government would adequately compensate the people for the land acquisition.
“The Seyi Makinde led government is ready to enumerate original land owners whose lands will be used for new Inland dry port as well as the rail line for development of the area.
“Once the government acquires the land, adequate compensation would be paid to the land owners and also farmers who cultivate on the land.
“This is a massive development for the area as socio-economic activities will be boosted because of the introduction of the Inland dry port as well as the rail line,” the commissioner said.
He said that 300 hectares of land would be used for the project and that due process would be followed in carrying out the exercise.
Earlier, Oba James Odeniran, the traditional ruler of Akinyele, who spoke on behalf of other monarchs, appealed the state government to resettle some villagers whose houses and farmlands would be affected by the dry port and rail line projects.
Odediran, however, expressed appreciation to the state government for bringing the dry port project to the area, saying that such would facilitate development to the area.
