Oyo residents protest Ibadan Circular Road corridor transparency concerns

By Adejayan Gbenga, Ibadan

Residents affected by the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor project have staged a protest, calling on the Oyo State Government to improve engagement with communities and ensure transparency in the project’s implementation.

The protesters appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) to intervene in the ongoing dispute.

Western Post confirmed that hundreds of residents gathered in Ibadan, carrying placards to express their concerns about activities linked to the road project.

Speaking for the group, the secretary of the affected residents, Olajide Abass, urged the government to strictly adhere to the original land acquisition plan of 75 metres on both sides of the road, which was gazetted in 2006 during Ladoja’s administration, demanding that all property owners affected within the approved right of way be fully compensated before any demolition takes place, including those previously affected without receiving compensation.

Abass further urged the government to protect communities located outside the approved boundary, insisting that such areas should not be included in any future expansion.

The aggrieved equally noted that they believe in dialogue, stressing the need for authorities to prioritise fairness, inclusiveness, and transparency in dealing with host communities.