Thousands of residents across several local government areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, took to the streets on Monday to protest what they described as Governor Seyi Makinde’s plans to expand the Ibadan Circular Road corridor.
The demonstrators, who blocked major roads in the city, accused the state government of attempting to acquire lands beyond the original 150-metre plan approved during the tenure of former Governor and current Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Protesters from Ido, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Oluyole, and Egbeda stormed the streets, warning that the proposed expansion could affect homes, farmlands, and community properties. At Iwo Road, one of Ibadan’s busiest intersections, residents blocked access, creating heavy traffic and leaving commuters stranded for hours.
Another group marched to the Agodi Government Secretariat, insisting that the government halt any further land acquisition. Many carried placards condemning the move as an attempt to “forcefully dispossess communities” of their ancestral lands.
Residents expressed fears that the expansion could lead to displacement, demolition of homes, and loss of livelihoods. Efforts to calm the communities had reportedly not yielded results as of the time of reporting.
The circular road project, originally conceived under Ladoja’s administration, has been a longstanding initiative aimed at improving urban mobility in Ibadan. The renewed controversy highlights tensions between government infrastructure plans and local community interests.
