Adelabu Offers ₦25 Million Relief to Victims of Ibadan Circular Road Demolition

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has provided financial support to residents affected by the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project initiated by the Oyo State Government.

Adelabu, who is also a 2027 governorship hopeful under the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the gesture was a humanitarian effort aimed at easing the hardship of those displaced by the demolition exercise.

The demolition, which has sparked public outrage, affected property owners whose buildings were either demolished or marked for demolition within the 500-metre buffer zone on both sides of the 113-kilometre project corridor.

Speaking during an interactive meeting with the affected residents in Ibadan, the minister clarified that his intervention was not politically motivated.

“This is not about politics; it is about humanity,” Adelabu said. “We are one family in Ibadan. As a Minister of the Federal Republic representing Oyo State, I feel a responsibility to restore hope and reduce the suffering of our people.”

To support displaced families, Adelabu announced a ₦25 million donation as the first phase of his relief initiative, which will help residents secure temporary accommodation.

“For this initial phase, I am donating ₦25 million so that some of you can rent temporary apartments,” he stated. “This is to provide immediate relief while longer-term solutions are being worked out.”

The minister also expressed sympathy for those who lost their lives or sustained injuries during the demolition, stressing that development must never come at the cost of human dignity.

“Yes, we all want progress for Ibadan and Oyo State,” he said, “but it should not come at the expense of human lives and welfare. True development must have a human face.”

Adelabu further urged the government to avoid indiscriminate demolitions that could displace families and worsen hardship. “Government exists to serve and protect the people, not to cause them pain,” he added.

“While infrastructure is important, it must be executed responsibly and with compassion.”

Reacting, the Baale of Asanke Village, Chief Sule Asanke, appealed to Adelabu to intervene by engaging Governor Seyi Makinde to suspend further demolitions. “We are devastated that our lands have been taken, allegedly to be sold to private individuals,” he lamented. “We are pleading for government intervention to save our homes and livelihoods.”