Acquisition and Revocation of Right of Occupancy for 110km Ibadan Circular Road in Ibadan Region, Oyo State, Nigeria

The study assessed the level of compliance by the acquiring Authority with the process and procedure stipulated in the law for acquisition of right of occupancy and emerging problems in respect of 110km Ibadan circular road project in Ibadan region. Survey research design was adopted and two types of questionnaires were prepared; one for the officers of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD) and the other the land owners whose properties were acquired. The variables of the questionnaire include procedures adopted for acquisition and compensation by the authority, issues faced with revocation and compensation and level of satisfaction by the landowners with the exercise. Officers of relevant departments were sampled through Organized Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with semi-structured interview guide while the affected landowners were sampled through structured interview. The findings show that the acquiring authority complied with some of the laws, however, some were disregarded for instance, allowance were not made for interest for delay payment, injurious affection and emotional/psychological trauma suffered as a result of the exercise. No prompt attention to resettle or pay compensation to the affected people and inconsistency of the authority with regard to the circular road corridor that was formally approved for 150m and later extended to 500m which caused a lot of damage and rendered many people homeless are among the procedures not observed in the exercise. The study recommends that people should be adequately informed about government intention and purpose of revocation and acquisition of right of occupancy. Also, prompt resettlement plan or compensation should be made to the affected people and lastly compensation should include injurious affection delay payment and emotional or psychological trauma suffered as a result of the exercise.