By Aisha Audu
The Director General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands,TPL Augustine Otaru, has said the payment of compensation to shop owners and occupiers affected by the demolition at Idoji, Okene LGA, was carried out on the direct instruction of Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo.
Addressing beneficiaries at the presentation of cheques at the Bureau office complex, the DG explained that the Governor directed the Bureau to conduct a fresh evaluation of the previous assessment.
“During the re-assessment, we discovered that some of the shops had been partitioned into double shops. The Governor then gave directives for the payment of the assessed land value to ensure fairness,” he stated.
The DG recalled that immediately after the demolition, the Governor approved an initial payment of ₦350,000 to each shop owner as palliative.
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For the final compensation, he said payment is structured in two phases: 70 percent to shop owners and 30 percent to shop occupiers. A total of 23 shop owners and 23 shop occupiers are benefiting from the exercise.
He acknowledged that demolition is never a popular decision. “Nobody is happy with demolition.
But the Governor had to act because criminals were using that area for criminal activities. The action was taken in the interest of public safety and the development of Okene town,” the DG said.
The DG further disclosed that the Bureau is currently handling three major compensation exercises across the state.These include compensation for the Kogi Airport site, the Ajaokuta Special Economic Zone/Free Trade Zone, and the shop owners at Idoji in Okene LGA.
He added that for goods lost in the demolished shops, government approved a flat rate payment, noting that the assessed value of contents was also factored in before today’s disbursement.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the team leader, Alh. Aliu Bello, aka Sanbell, thanked the Governor for keeping his promise.
He recalled that their shops were destroyed on 15th January 2026, and expressed joy that the Governor fulfilled his commitment by compensating them on 23rd July 2026.
Alh. Bello said the compensation has restored hope and provided another source of livelihood for the affected families.
He also commended the DG for his relentless commitment and dedication to the assignment.
“With this compensation, the Governor has not only put smiles on our faces but has also shown how kind and serious he takes the affairs of the state,” he said.
Highlights of the program included a vote of thanks and the formal presentation of cheques to all 46 beneficiaries by officials of the Bureau.
