Ibadan Residents Protest Over Circular Road Extension
Residents of several local government areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday took to the streets to protest the state government’s alleged plan to acquire more land for the ongoing Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project.
The protesters, who came from Ido, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Oluyole, and Egbeda Local Government Areas, expressed anger over what they described as government’s attempt to extend the project’s boundary beyond the 150 metres earlier approved during the tenure of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Carrying placards and banners, the demonstrators blocked major roads, including the busy Iwo Road junction along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, causing heavy traffic gridlock that lasted for hours.
One of the community representatives, Akeem Olaiya, who spoke to journalists during the protest, said the residents were not opposed to the construction of the circular road but were only demanding fairness and respect for previously established boundaries.
“We are law-abiding citizens. You can see that our protest is peaceful,” Olaiya said. “What we are asking is very simple — that the state government should maintain the 150 metres already marked by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja. Anything beyond that will destroy our farmlands and homes.”
He noted that many affected families had already lost portions of their ancestral lands during the first phase of the project and could not afford further displacement.
Other protesters who spoke expressed similar concerns, accusing the government of failing to engage them in proper consultation before commencing new phases of land acquisition. They urged Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene urgently to prevent the situation from escalating.
The Ibadan Circular Road project was first conceived during the administration of former Governor Ladoja between 2003 and 2007 as part of efforts to decongest traffic within the Ibadan metropolis and open up the city for economic growth. However, the project has faced several setbacks and redesigns under successive administrations.
While the Oyo State Government has said the circular road will boost transportation and regional development, some communities along the route have continued to raise concerns about compensation, relocation, and environmental impact.
As of the time of filing this report, security operatives had been deployed to the protest area to maintain order and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
