Motorists in Ibadan were left stranded for hours on Monday as hundreds of residents affected by the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor project staged a peaceful protest over what they described as unfair treatment by the Oyo State Government.
The protesters, who converged at the end of the Ibadan–Ife Road around 10 a.m., carried placards, banners, and posters bearing various inscriptions demanding justice and fair compensation. Their presence caused a massive gridlock along the busy route, forcing many commuters and traders to abandon their vehicles and trek long distances.
The demonstrators later spread across key routes, blocking major roads before marching through Idi-Ape to the Oyo State Secretariat at Agodi, where the protest reached its peak. Security operatives were on the ground to prevent a breakdown of law and order, although the tension was palpable as the crowd swelled.
It was observed that the demonstration caused a temporary shutdown of activities at the Secretariat. Visitors, civil servants, and business owners were delayed as security personnel restricted access to the premises until the protest ended.
One of the protesters, Akeem Olaiya, said the residents were not out to cause chaos but to demand that the state government respect the initial boundary demarcations set by previous administrations.
“We are law-abiding citizens. You can see that our protest is peaceful. What we need is very simple—it’s for the Oyo State Government to maintain the 150 metres already marked by former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland,” Olaiya stated.
Another protest leader, Adeniyi Fasoye, clarified that the demonstration was not politically motivated and that no politician was behind their actions.
“This protest has nothing to do with politics. Nobody is sponsoring us against Governor Seyi Makinde. We are simply fighting for our rights and asking for fairness in the implementation of this project,” Fasoye said.
The Ibadan Circular Road project, aimed at decongesting traffic within the city and enhancing its transport network, has faced multiple controversies over land acquisition, compensation, and boundary disputes.
Monday’s protest adds to growing pressure on the state government to engage affected communities more transparently and address their grievances before construction progresses further.
