Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, reduced the land acquisition along the Ibadan Circular Road project corridor from 500 metres to 150 metres in developed areas.
The reversal followed days of protests by residents affected by the Ibadan Circular Road project.
According to WestNG, the decision was announced on Tuesday during a meeting between the National Association of Public Affairs Analysts (NAPAA) and top government officials, including the Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA), Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
Adebiyi, a retired permanent secretary and head of the OYNTCDA, clarified that the adjustment was made to address public concerns without compromising the long-term development vision of the Ibadan Circular Road.
The executive adviser, however, explained that while the government would limit the land acquisition to 150 metres in already developed portions, the 500-metre acquisition width would still apply in undeveloped areas.
She added that Governor Makinde did not snatch anyone’s land contrary to some media reports, saying that: “Governor Makinde has not acquired a metre of land from that axis since 2019.”
Adebiyi traced the project’s land acquisition history to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, now the Olubadan of Ibadanland, who first approved 75 metres on each side of the road in 2005. She added that the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi later expanded the corridor to 425 metres on both sides when the Ibadan Master Plan was developed in 2017, which was later extended to 500 metres.
Adebiyi added that, “The breadth of that road is one kilometre — 500 metres on either side. The road itself is 60 metres wide, while the remaining 470 metres on each side account for the corridor. But now, government has agreed to concede 150 metres in developed areas. In undeveloped areas, the status quo of 500 metres will apply. In appropriate cases, compensation will be paid,” she explained.
She further clarified the purpose of the Global Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued to the OYNTCDA, noting that it was designed to streamline development processes and eliminate encumbrances.
“If your property falls within developed areas, you can still apply for your own C of O. The OYNTCDA holds overall ownership of the land for coordinated planning, just like other government agencies do for their jurisdictions,” she said.
Also, speaking during the session, Dr. Olanrewaju dismissed claims that parts of the corridor had been allocated to private developers, maintaining that no such deal existed.
“Let’s not forget that Senator Ladoja paid compensation. What we are facing now in most cases is double compensation. If the government spends billions of naira to build the 110-kilometre road and we miss the opportunity to develop the area, it would be a tragedy for future generations,” he said.
Olanrewaju urged residents to support the project for the sake of economic expansion.
“If you drive from Lekki to Ajah in Lagos, you will see real development on both sides. Those companies didn’t just appear, someone foresaw the future and prepared the land. We want Oyo State to experience that same growth,” he said.
