Oyo land reforms generate N3.2bn in five months, says commissioner

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The Oyo State Government has generated N3.2 billion in revenue between January and May 2025 as a result of ongoing land reforms and digitization efforts under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, during the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing in Ibadan on Thursday.

Akin-Funmilayo attributed the revenue growth to the opening of new Government Reservation Areas (GRAs), the issuance of over 17,000 digital title documents since 2019, and technological innovations such as online allocation, e-permit platforms, and the Oyo State Property Reference System (OYPRS).

In 2023, the Ministry generated N4.8 billion, which rose to N6.1 billion in 2024. The current N3.2 billion revenue for 2025 as of May represents a N500 million increase compared to the same period last year.

Key GRAs under development include Senator Rashidi Ladoja GRA, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi GRA, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala GRA, and others across Ibadan, Oyo, and Ogbomoso. Several GRAs—such as those at Alalubosa, Aerodrome, and Agodi Gardens—are also set to hit the market soon.

The Commissioner also highlighted reforms such as the digitization of property records and survey processes, the signing of a new Land Use Charge Act into law, the recruitment of 77 new staff to boost capacity, and compensation payouts totaling over N935 million to property owners affected by infrastructure projects.

He assured residents of the government’s commitment to providing affordable housing and promoting safer building practices.

With 1,008 title documents issued in May alone, the Ministry projects over 5,000 issuances by year-end.