Residents Allege Oyo Government Unlawfully Grabbing Peoples Land for Ibadan Circular Road Project
Tension is brewing in Ibadan, Oyo State, as residents and property owners affected by the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project have accused the state government of unlawfully expanding the road corridor and encroaching on private lands.
The aggrieved residents claim the government has extended the approved road setback from 150 metres to 500 metres on both sides, describing the move as illegal and a deliberate attempt at land grabbing.
The accusations surfaced following reports of demolitions and markings on several properties along the circular road corridor, covering areas within Akinyele, Oluyole, Egbeda, Lagelu, Ido, and Ona-Ara Local Government Areas.
Residents alleged that government officials and contractors stormed their communities to pull down structures without proper notice or compensation.
During a peaceful protest, some affected homeowners said the state’s action contradicts the original plan for the Ibadan Circular Road as contained in earlier government gazettes. One of the protesters was quoted as saying, “One hundred and fifty metres is enough. Five hundred metres to the left and right of the circular road is out of it. It is not in the original gazette, and we won’t allow our lands to be taken unlawfully.”
The residents also accused certain individuals within government circles of using the project as a cover for land grabbing, vowing to continue their peaceful protests until the expansion is reversed and justice served.
However, the Oyo State government has dismissed the allegations. The Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey, and Urban Development explained that the areas in question were legally acquired by the state and form part of the long-term master plan for the Ibadan Circular Road project. He added that all structures within the designated corridor would be properly enumerated and that owners with valid documents would receive compensation.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who earlier defended the project, described the circular road as a strategic investment meant to ease traffic congestion and drive economic growth in the state. He denied claims of land grabbing, insisting that the administration’s goal is to ensure development that benefits all residents.
Despite these assurances, affected communities have continued to voice frustration over what they describe as lack of transparency, inadequate consultation, and disregard for due process. Many have called for an immediate suspension of demolitions until the state clarifies the approved boundaries and compensates rightful owners.
The Ibadan Circular Road project, which dates back to the 1978 Ibadan Master Plan and was revived in recent years, is expected to serve as a major transport link around the city. Yet, with growing opposition and accusations of overreach, the controversy surrounding land acquisition threatens to slow progress on what was meant to be one of Oyo State’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
