- the demonstrators, drawn from several local government areas caused severe gridlock
- Protesters were carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Makinde, Don’t Take Our Land” and “Respect Ladoja’s Plan”
- Governor Makinde to revert to the initial 150-metre measurement for the project
Residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, staged a massive protest on Monday against the alleged plan by Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to expand the land area for the Ibadan Circular Road project beyond its original design.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the demonstrators, drawn from several local government areas including Ido, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Akinyele, Oluyole, and Egbeda, blocked major roads across the city, causing severe gridlock and disrupting movement for hours.
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According to the protesters, the government’s intention to extend the 150-metre corridor initially approved under former Governor Rasidi Ladoja’s administration would lead to the demolition of homes, destruction of farmlands, and loss of livelihoods.
Protesters were carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Makinde, Don’t Take Our Land” and “Respect Ladoja’s Plan”, the aggrieved residents accused the state government of trying to dispossess them of their ancestral lands.
At Iwo Road, one of the busiest parts of the city, protesters barricaded the highways, forcing motorists and commuters to spend hours in traffic.
Another group marched toward the Agodi Government Secretariat, insisting that the administration must suspend any land expansion efforts.
The demonstrators vowed to resist what they described as an “unjust and forceful acquisition” of their communities, calling on Governor Makinde to revert to the initial 150-metre measurement for the project.
Efforts by security agencies and government representatives to pacify the protesters were still ongoing as of press time, with residents maintaining that they would not back down until their demands were met.
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