Olusegun Adeyemo
Residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, staged a peaceful protest on Monday against the proposed extension of land acquisition for the Ibadan Circular Road project.
The protesters, mostly from Akinyele Local Government Area, marched to the entrance of the Oyo State Government Secretariat to express their displeasure over the government’s decision to go beyond the originally marked boundaries for the road construction.
The 110-kilometre Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road was initially conceived between 2003 and 2007 under the administration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja. However, the project was stalled during the tenure of his successor, the late Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala.
Construction eventually began under the leadership of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who governed from 2011 to 2019. Now, with the current administration of Governor Seyi Makinde overseeing the continuation of the project, affected communities are urging the government not to extend the road beyond the initially allocated 150 metres of land.
Carrying placards with messages like “150 metres is enough,” and “Our people are dying daily,” the residents appealed for consideration, saying the initial land acquisition had already caused significant hardship and displacement.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters in an interview with The Journal Nigeria, community representative Ismail Abimbola said many residents are living in fear over the proposed expansion. “We are here to appeal to the government to reconsider the planned extension,” he said. “Many communities in Akinyele LGA, including Solalu, Alagbede, Olukitibi, Akinwande, Omilabu, Aba Odo, and several others, have already been affected.”
He added, “Our people are mentally and emotionally devastated. Many feel lifeless even though they are still physically alive. We urge the government not to go beyond the previously marked boundaries.”
The residents reiterated their support for development but called for a more humane approach that respects existing agreements and minimizes the impact on their communities.