Segun Atanda/
Following three days of protests by residents affected by the Ibadan Circular Road project, the Oyo State Government has agreed to reduce land acquisition along the corridor from 500 metres to 150 metres in developed areas.
The decision was announced on Wednesday during a meeting between the National Association of Public Affairs Analysts (NAPAA) and senior government officials, including Mrs Mofoluke Adebiyi, Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA), and Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary.
Adebiyi, a retired permanent secretary and head of the OYNTCDA, said the adjustment addresses public concerns without compromising the long-term vision for the Ibadan Circular Road.
She explained that while acquisition in developed areas would be limited to 150 metres, the 500-metre width would still apply in undeveloped sections.
“There is no new acquisition. Some radio stations claim Governor Makinde has taken our land, but that is not true. Since 2019, no land along this axis has been acquired,” she said.
Adebiyi traced the project’s land acquisition history to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the Olubadan of Ibadanland, who initially approved 75 metres on either side of the road in 2005. The late Governor Abiola Ajimobi later expanded the corridor to 425 metres on each side in 2017 as part of the Ibadan Master Plan, eventually increasing it to 500 metres.
“The total corridor spans one kilometre, with the road itself occupying 60 metres. The remaining 470 metres on each side account for the corridor. The government has now agreed to limit acquisition to 150 metres in developed areas. In undeveloped areas, the 500-metre standard will remain. Compensation will be provided where appropriate,” she added.
Adebiyi also clarified the purpose of the Global Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) held by the OYNTCDA, which is intended to streamline development and remove encumbrances.
“If your property lies in a developed area, you can still apply for your own C of O. The OYNTCDA holds overall ownership for coordinated planning, as other government agencies do in their jurisdictions,” she said.
Olanrewaju dismissed claims that parts of the corridor had been allocated to private developers, insisting no such arrangements existed.
He emphasised that compensation had already been paid by Senator Ladoja and warned against double compensation claims.
“If the government spends billions to build this 110-kilometre road and we fail to develop the area, it would be a tragedy for future generations,” he said.
Comparing the project to Lagos, Olanrewaju urged residents to support it for the sake of economic expansion. “If you travel from Lekki to Ajah in Lagos, you’ll see extensive development on both sides. Those companies didn’t appear by chance; the land was prepared for the future. We want Oyo State to experience similar growth,” he said.
The Ibadan Circular Road, a flagship project of the Makinde administration, aims to reduce traffic congestion, stimulate urban expansion, and attract investment to the state capital and surrounding areas.
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