Residents of over 1,000 communities along the Ibadan Circular Road have made an urgent appeal to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, regarding the planned extension of the corridor by 500 meters. The affected local governments, which encompass more than 10,000 houses and commercial buildings, include Oluyole, Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Lagelu, Akinyele, and Ido.
In a statement jointly signed by ICRCR Coordinator Niyi Fasoye and Secretary Isiaq Jimoh in Ibadan, the residents expressed concern that the ongoing construction has already led to the untimely deaths of many landlords and landladies in the area. They urged the governor not to extend the Circular Road beyond the existing 150 meters, emphasizing their reliance on their homes and the difficulties they faced in establishing them.
The statement highlighted several specific communities affected within the Oluyole Local Government, including Egbeda Tuber, Tech u, and Ajota. In Lagelu, residents from Ejioku, Eni Osa, Arulogun, and others have been impacted. Similarly, the Egbeda Local Government includes Ayede and Erunmu, while Ona-Ara residents from Ajia, Arowojeka, and several others have raised concerns. Akinyele and Ido local governments have also seen residents affected by the proposed extension.
The affected residents have requested that the state government respect the originally acquired 150 meters and cease marking houses for the new boundary, allowing them to process property titles through the Ministry of Lands. They noted that previous land markings were made under former Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s administration between 2003 and 2007, but the project was not executed until the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi from 2011 to 2019.
The residents hope for a favorable response from the governor, stressing their need for assistance and the importance of their homes.
