The Ondo State Government has addressed the controversy surrounding the proposed redevelopment of the Alagbaka Government Staff Quarters in Akure, describing recent criticisms as misleading and politically motivated.
In an official statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing, Engr. Ayorinde Abiola Olawoye, FNSE, FNICE, the government reaffirmed its commitment to responsible urban renewal and sustainable infrastructure in line with Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s development agenda.
According to Engr. Olawoye, the existing Alagbaka Staff Quarters — comprising 69 bungalows with 53 residential and 16 office units — was built over three decades ago and now sits on a vast 31.3 hectares of land. He described the buildings as “substandard, unsafe, and unsuitable for modern habitation” due to years of neglect and lack of renovation.
“What this administration envisions is not just reconstruction, but a holistic transformation into a modern urban housing estate that reflects the aspirations of a 21st-century Ondo State,” the statement read.
Refuting allegations of land grabbing, the Special Adviser emphasized that the project is part of the state’s broader Urban Regeneration and Infrastructure Optimization Plan. He noted that the government is working closely with labour unions to ensure that any civil servants affected by the redevelopment are fairly accommodated.
“Contrary to baseless propaganda, the Aiyedatiwa administration is not rendering civil servants homeless. The current occupants — many of whom are not the original allottees but subtenants — constitute less than one percent of the state’s workforce,” Olawoye stated.
He described the opposition to the project as an attempt to manipulate public sentiment and stall progress, insisting that the initiative is in the best interest of the people.
Under the administration’s “Our Ease” development framework, the state government is prioritizing safety, environmental sustainability, structural integrity, and aesthetic appeal in all ongoing and future infrastructure projects.
Olawoye assured that the redevelopment of the Alagbaka Housing Units will be executed with transparency and professionalism, positioning it as a legacy project that signals Ondo State’s readiness for comprehensive urban transformation.
“No amount of distraction will derail this vision,” he concluded.
