The Oyo State Government on Monday unveiled plans to commence a new digital system for building/survey plan approval.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Hon. Williams Akin-Funmilayo revealed this during the meeting with all zonal directors of town planning offices in Oyo State held at the Ministry  Conference Room.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Akin-Funmilayo stated that the New Digital Process marked a new development in urban management and infrastructural regulation.

He explained that the new development would stop all forms of leakages and irregularities that manual operations had established in the past.

He hinted that the new digital building plan approval system will be more transparent and traceable.

He maintained that the new digital building plan approval system will eradicate the traditional way of doing things; it is fully automated and equipped with security features, including a bar code that generates and validates every approved document.

He noted that the period of inefficiency and compromise within the officials of town planning is over, adding that the present administration would no longer tolerate excuses but good results that reflect the Government’s investment in modernization.

Hon. Akin-Funmilayo therefore charged the task forces and enforcement departments at the Physical Planning to step up their monitoring operations and clamp down on all developers or individuals violating planning regulations.

He reaffirmed that the present administration is determined to protect lives and properties through strict compliance with planning laws and approved construction standards.

He further assured all the citizens of Oyo State that the new digital plan system will allow them to apply and process building approval from anywhere in the world and also save time and eradicate the need for intermediaries or backdoor dealings.

He urged all the property owners to support the State Government by adhering strictly to this new development, assuring them that it will be friendly and corruption-free.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,

Commissioner for Information,

Oyo State.

The Oyo State Government on Wednesday, recieved the revised compensation rates on crops and economic trees for landowners affected by projects to ensure fairness and justice.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin Funmilayo stated this while receiving the document from the representative of Federal Government.

Recall that the Federal Government introduced the revised compensation rates for individuals affected during land acquisitions for public projects.

Akin-funmilayo expressed appreciation for the initiative, stating that it will significantly enhance the State’s capacity for effective land administration.

He said, “Land acquisition is a critical component of land management, and it must be accompanied by fair compensation.”

He added, “This review provides a more just framework for compensating project-affected persons.”

Mr. Akin-funmilayo also noted that the State Government had earlier submitted its recommendations to the Federal Government for harmonization, and commended Governor Seyi Makinde for supporting the initiative.

“This development will go a long way in strengthening our land management processes and ensuring that those who make sacrifices for public development are adequately compensated”, he posited.

He said that the reviewed rates are expected to guide future land acquisition exercises and promote transparency, fairness, and accountability in compensation practices across the State.

Earlier, the representative of the Federal Ministry of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Adelani Israel, emphasized the importance of the review, noting that the existing compensation framework which was established in 2008, is outdated and no longer reflects current economic realities or international best practices.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,

Commissioner for Information and Orientation,

Oyo State.

The Oyo State Government has expressed its plans to embark on a digital address system for street and house numbering across the Oyo State.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin Funmilayo, made the disclosure on Wednesday at a meeting with Smart City Development Konsult Limited, held at the ministry’s conference room.

He said that the plan is part of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s Omititun 2.0 Sustainable Development Goals, saying the project is part of the promise made by the Governor.

Mr. Akin-funmilayo maintained that the presentation made by the Smart City Development Consult is part of the preminary stage that will lead to the presentation to the exco level.

He explained that when the project is eventually implemented, it will ensure easy identification, the location of buildings, and an emergency response for the State.

According to him, “as the saying goes, a promise made is a promise kept. His Excellency, in his Omituntun 2.0 Roadmap to Sustainable Development, made several promises. One of the tasks that falls under the purview of the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development is house numbering.”

“Out of all the promises made, which serve as covenant between His Excellency and the good people of Oyo State, house numbering stands out, and we, his lieutenants, are doing all we can to ensure its actualization.

“House numbering involves assigning a unique number to every building. The importance of this exercise cannot be overemphasized. Among its numerous benefits, it helps in easy identification and location of buildings. More importantly, it plays a crucial role in emergency response, be it fire outbreaks or health emergencies requiring an ambulance.

“Without house numbers, how would emergency responders locate the building? It becomes a case of confusion, repeated calls, and potentially fatal delays. We all understand how critical time is during emergencies. Delays could lead to the loss of properties, or worse, lives. If fire services or ambulances cannot locate the right building on time, the consequences could be tragic.

“These, among many other reasons, are why we are committed to this house numbering project. Although this administration has less than two years remaining, we believe it is essential to start the process before we leave the office.

“The commissioner for budget and Economy planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde and I have discussed this move with the Governor, and he has given his support. So this presentation is part of the preliminary of what we have to do before pushing it out to the executive council level”, he added.

E-signed:

Prince Dotun Oyelade,
Commissioner for Information and Orientation,
Oyo State.