Thousands of Oyo residents staged a peaceful protest against the planned extension of the Ibadan Circular Road, causing major traffic gridlocks in the state capital.
Motorists were stranded on Monday as thousands of residents affected by the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor project protested the planned extension of the road in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to a report from PUNCH Metro, the protesters, carrying placards and banners, began gathering at about 10 a.m. at the end of the Ibadan-Ife road, causing significant traffic congestion. They later marched through Idi-Ape to join counterparts at the State Secretariat, Agodi, leading to a temporary shutdown of the secretariat. Visitors and workers experienced delays until the protest ended.
One protester, Akeem Olaiya, said, “We are law-abiding citizens. You can see that our protest is peaceful. What we need is very simple, it’s just for the Oyo State Government to maintain the 150 metres already marked by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.”
The group coordinator, Adeniyi Fasoye, added, “We are not politicians. This peaceful rally is not politically driven. We are protesting the extension of the corridor for the Circular Road. We are appealing to the state government through the governor to leave the corridor alone.”
The road project, originally marked at 150 metres by Ladoja during his tenure, now faces an extension under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, potentially affecting over 100 communities across seven local government areas.
Residents are urging the government to preserve the original plan to prevent further displacement.