The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims circulating on social media that it demolished a property belonging to a former Deputy Governor of the state, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, describing the reports as false and misleading.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, refuted the allegation on Wednesday after an on-the-spot assessment of the site in question, an undeveloped piece of land located along the Iwo Road–Ojoo Expressway in Ibadan.
Speaking to journalists at the location, Akin-Funmilayo said there was no building or developed structure on the land and that the state government did not demolish any property belonging to the former deputy governor.
He explained that the issue stemmed from the removal of a fence that was unlawfully erected across an existing community access road, which serves as a vital link between residents, property owners and the major expressway.
According to him, the access road had existed long before the land was acquired and remains essential to the movement and economic activities of people in the area.
“The land being referred to is undeveloped. There is no structure on it, and at no point did the Oyo State Government demolish any building belonging to Engineer Rauf Olaniyan,” the commissioner said.
Akin-Funmilayo noted that the ministry intervened following repeated complaints and petitions from community members who said the fence blocked their only access road and caused significant hardship.
He added that all statutory notices were properly served in line with the law before the fence was removed, stressing that approvals, including those reportedly obtained from the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, do not permit the obstruction of existing access roads.
“What was removed was an illegal fence constructed on a recognised access road. The law does not allow anyone to block a public or community access road under any circumstance,” he said.
Some residents of the affected community also spoke during the inspection, supporting the government’s position. They said efforts to resolve the matter amicably with the landowner were unsuccessful, alleging intimidation and harassment, which eventually led them to seek the intervention of the ministry.
Officials of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, as well as representatives of the host communities, were present during the inspection and media interaction.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to due process, the rule of law and the protection of public interest, while urging members of the public to disregard misinformation capable of causing unnecessary tension.
