By Peter Omopo
Ibadan, July 29, 2025 — Residents of more than 1,000 communities along the Ibadan Circular Road corridor have appealed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to reconsider the proposed extension of the road’s corridor pillar from 150 metres to 500 metres.
The appeal was made in a joint statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by the Coordinator of the Ibadan Circular Road Communities Representatives (ICRCR), Mr. Niyi Fasoye, and the group’s Secretary, Mr. Isiaq Jimoh. The statement expressed concerns about the far-reaching impact of the planned expansion on residential and commercial properties across six local government areas.
The affected LGAs include Oluyole, Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Lagelu, Akinyele, and Ido, where over 10,000 buildings—comprising homes and businesses—could be demolished if the extension proceeds as planned.
“We want to appeal to the Governor Makinde-led administration not to extend the Circular Road beyond 150 metres,” the statement read. “Many of us have already been affected by the current alignment, and we are appealing to the state government to stop the installation of pillars marking 500 metres. These homes are our life’s work. We have nowhere else to go.”
The group noted that some landlords and landladies have died from the trauma and stress of losing their properties to the initial phases of the project. They urged the state government to maintain the previously approved 150-metre width and stop further markings and demolition notices.
The communities affected span several areas, including Egbeda Tuber, Tech U, and Ajota in Oluyole; Ejioku, Arulogun, Abaoba, and Ire-Akari in Lagelu; Ayede and Erunmu in Egbeda; and Ajia, Badeku, Akamo, and Odeyale in Ona-Ara.
Other listed communities include Aroro Kole, Molarere, and Odo-Oba in Akinyele; and Omi-Adio, Wire & Cable, Elenusonso, Idi-Igbaro, and Isale-Alah in Ido Local Government Area.
The residents emphasized that their properties were not located on government-acquired land, and as such, they called on the government to halt the installation of new boundary pillars and to allow affected individuals to regularize their land titles at the Ministry of Lands.
The Ibadan Circular Road project dates back to the administration of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja (2003–2007), but remained unexecuted until the tenure of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi (2011–2019), who initiated construction.
Governor Makinde has since prioritized the project under his infrastructure expansion agenda, but residents now fear the expanded corridor plan may render thousands homeless.
The ICRCR concluded their plea by calling for dialogue and a humane resolution to the ongoing concerns, expressing hope that Governor Makinde, known for his people-focused leadership, would intervene.
