Residents along the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor have called for improved engagement, transparency, and an end to what they described as selective actions affecting their communities, urging the Oyo State Government to adhere strictly to the gazetted 75 metres on both sides of the road.
The affected residents, comprising community leaders, stakeholders, policymakers, and concerned citizens, also appealed for the intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes over the lingering issue.
Hundreds of residents staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan, displaying placards with inscriptions expressing their concerns about the ongoing developments around the project.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Secretary of the affected residents, Olajide Abass, urged the government to respect the original acquisition framework of 75 metres on both sides, as established and gazetted during the administration of Rashidi Ladoja in 2006.
He further called for adequate compensation to be paid to all affected property owners within the right of way before any demolition is carried out, including those whose properties had previously been affected without compensation.
Abass also appealed for the preservation of existing communities located beyond the gazetted boundary, stressing that such areas should be excluded from any additional acquisition or expansion plans.
He expressed confidence that constructive dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders would lead to fair and lasting solutions beneficial to both the government and residents.
The group also called for sustained advocacy and timely intervention to protect the welfare and rights of those affected by the project, while urging the state government to prioritise fairness, inclusiveness, and transparency in its engagement with host communities.
