Residents Protest Expansion of Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road in Ibadan

Residents affected by the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road construction in Ibadan, Oyo State, staged a protest against alleged plans by the state government to acquire additional land for the project. The demonstrators blocked major roads, including the Iwo Road intersection on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, causing severe traffic congestion.

Protesters from Akinyele, Oluyole, Egbeda, Lagelu, Ona-Ara, and Ido local councils carried placards urging Governor Seyi Makinde to halt the proposed expansion beyond the approved 150 metres. They called on the governor to honour his 2024 assurance that no homes would be demolished. While acknowledging the project’s benefits, residents appealed for the government to respect the original boundary limits.

The demonstrators also dismissed claims that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had financially assisted affected residents, insisting any support was limited to political associates. The Circular Road project, intended to reduce traffic congestion and spur development in Ibadan, continues to raise concerns over land acquisition, compensation, and its impact on local communities.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale