The price of land in Osun State is on the rise. Unlike in the past when there was cheap or almost free land, the available land in the urban centers of Osun State is now attracting as much as 1000 percent and 2000 percent price increase in the past few years.

In Osogbo, the state capital, a hectare of land that sold for N250,000 in 2010, now sells for between N5m and N10m, depending on the area. In fact, a plot of land at the Government Reserved Area, GRA, Osogbo sells for as high as N30m to N40m. The story is the same in other areas of the state. Areas like Ilesha, Ile-Ife, Ikirun, Iwo among others have seen a sharp increase in the price of land. Similarly, the prices of real estate have also taken a hit.

Samson Ogini, an Estate valuer, who resides in Ede, attributed the sharp increase in price of real estate to the level of development across the state. Ogini noted that several areas in and out of Osogbo and other areas of the state with poor access in 2010, have now been opened up. Several inner city roads have been constructed, thereby increasing the value of real estate.

In the same vein, speaking on the rate of road construction across the state, Nurudeen Adeagbo, permanent secretary, Ministry of Works, State of Osun, stated that the administration of Rauf Aregbesola embarked on road construction projects across the state when he came on board in November 2010 to improve the quality of living our people, increase access to markets and drive investments into the state.

Adeagbo said that the current administration has facilitated the construction of 310km of roads across all local government areas, with a distribution of an average of 10km of per LGA.

Still on inner-city roads, Adeagbo said that, “the government constructed the Eripa-Ila road, Ila; Olaiya-Okefia road, Osogbo; Osogbo East Bypass Road 1, Osogbo, among others. The government has constructed inner-city roads covering 558km, the permanent secretary noted.

“Township roads in excess of 138kms have also been completed, with the rehabilitation of Mokore farm settlement road, construction of 20KM Alaguntan-Alepaanu farm Settlement Road and the construction of 5.5 Km road at farmers plank sellers’ market, Ido Osun, among others.”

Ganiyu Kehinde, a bus driver, and Bashiru Akinsalo, a commercial motorcyclist, who spoke separately, commended the government for intensifying efforts on road construction and bringing massive infrastructural development into the state.

Ganiyu also noted that the huge number of new roads scattered across the state has not only made access easier but have also reduced the risk of accidents on the roads.

—  Apr 10, 2017 @ 11:15 GMT

|