Two Women In Their 80s Die While Awaiting Oyo State’s Compensation For Demolished Homes

Two elderly women have passed away while awaiting compensation from the Oyo State Government for homes demolished to make way for the construction of Circular Road in Ibadan.

According to SaharaReporters, the deceased, Asiatu Akindele, 81, and Agnes Ishola, 80, reportedly passed away on March 9 and March 11, 2025, respectively, at their makeshift residences in Agbena, Ona Ara Local Government Area.

Engineer Adekunle Adeniyi, Chairman of the Association of Owners of Demolished Houses at Circular Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, disclosed the tragic development to SaharaReporters.

Adeniyi said their deaths have intensified the grievances of the affected homeowners, who have lamented the prolonged delay in receiving their compensation.

He stated that the women died due to harsh weather conditions and poor living conditions after being rendered homeless.

“These senior citizens, whose homes were brutally demolished at the twilight of their lives, succumbed to the hardship and despair caused by the continued delay in compensation,” Adeniyi said.

“They had hoped to secure better accommodation once the government paid what was promised.”

According to Adeniyi, about 400 people were affected by the demolitions, and they have been left in limbo due to the slow pace of the compensation process.

He explained that the Oyo State Government had set up a committee, led by retired Commissioner of Police O.A. Odukoya, on October 14, 2024, to oversee the payments.

The committee conducted verification and re-verification exercises at Bashorun High School, Ibadan, on December 15, 2024.

However, despite assurances, no payments have been made nearly four months later, leading to increasing frustration among the displaced residents.

Olusoji Idowu, a valuation and loss payment expert, described the delay as alarming and unusual.

“There should not be such a long gap between the verification of documents and the actual payment of compensation,” he said.

“The authorities must ensure that this committee is not engaging in unethical practices or playing games with the lives of these vulnerable compensation seekers, most of whom are elderly citizens.”

Affected residents are calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene urgently to prevent further casualties among those who have been left homeless due to the demolitions.

On February 6, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that victims of the demolition exercise along the Ibadan Circular Road (ICR) project corridor had expressed deep frustration over the unexplained delay in receiving compensation despite Governor Seyi Makinde’s directive for prompt payment.

The affected property owners, whose houses were demolished to pave the way for the project, voiced concerns over what they described as intentional delays in the disbursement of their entitlements.

According to them, the prolonged wait had subjected them to untold hardship, especially as inflation continued to erode the value of the expected payments.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, some displaced residents lamented their worsening economic situation, accusing the compensation committee of failing to act swiftly.

They urged Governor Makinde to intervene and expedite the process before the current economic crisis diminishes the relief intended by the compensation package.