Ogun State Government said it inherited N202bn compensation debt on properties demolished by the administration of a former governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, on the expansion of some roads across the state.
It, however, said the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, had approved the payment of the outstanding compensation to owners of the affected properties.
The state commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, disclosed this in Abeokuta, the state capital, on Sunday.
He added that the payment of the compensation would be in phases.
The commissioner added that the state government had decided on the policy of no demolition in its project execution, except where necessary and unavoidable.
He said, “The Abiodun administration inherited outstanding debt of N202bn from the Amosun government on roads alone.
“The last administration had earmarked some houses for demolition preparatory to the rehabilitation of Kemta-Somorin Road in Abeokuta. The project is nearing completion without any demolition carried out.
“Our road design and construction is such that we try to avoid demolition. It is actually not necessary to demolish while constructing roads, unless it is actually unavoidable.
“The same thing applies to bridge construction. Most of the bridges constructed by that regime were a waste of resources.”
Attempts to get reaction from Amosun on the allegation failed on Sunday.
The former governor had yet to respond to the message sent to his mobile phone on the allegation.
Contact: theeditor[at]punchng.com
