Ibidapo Olowolayemo, Ibadan
Saturday December 20, 2025
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The Circular Road Stakeholders Engagement Committee set up by the Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to look into the grievances of those protesting against the planned corridor for the 110-kilometre road, has paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Senator) Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa 1, at the Oke Aremo Palace to brief him on its activities and seek guidance on how to further successfully prosecute its assignment.
The committee, made up of some prominent Ibadan mogajis (family heads), chairmen of the six local government areas in Ibadan through which the road passes (Oluyole, Ona Ara, Egbeda, Lagelu, Akinyele, and Ido), representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the management of Oyo State New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA), was warmly received by the Olubadan, in company with the Asipa Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, and other senior palace officials.
While introducing the committees mission to Kabiyesi Olubadan, chairman of the committee, Engr. Abduljelyl Adekunle Karheem, Mogaji Adanla, credited the committees inauguration to Governor Makinde’s pronouncement during his direct interface with the anti-Circular Road corridors protesters on 26th November, that he would set up a broad-based ad-hoc committee to further engage them, look into their grievances, and advise government based on its findings.
Mogaji Adanla praised the revered monarch for his foresight of envisioning the Circular Road project and making the first bold move of acquiring land for it, which has culminated in the strides being taken by the Engr. Makinde’s administration to bring it to fruition.
Elaborating on this, the Executive Adviser to the Governor on New Towns and Cities Development, Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi, catalogued the activities of the committee thus far.
She stated that the committee started out by holding an inaugural meeting with the 14-man team representing the affected persons across the six LGAs (as selected by themselves), after which it set out on on-the-spot assessment visits to the impacted communities, meeting with the affected people, and taking note of community-by-community peculiarities vis-à-vis the government’s policy statements.
Mrs. Adebiyi concluded that the committee ha, so far, visited Oluyole, Ona Ara, Akinyele, and Ido LGAs, while its visits to Egbeda and Lagelu LGAs were scheduled for same day after the meeting with the Olubadan.
In his remarks, Oba Ladoja acknowledged that his administration as Oyo State governor made the original acquisitions of 75 meters left and 75 meters right of the Circular Road, and paid off compensations to owners of the acquired lands.
He said he had earlier met with Governor Makinde who briefed him on the extension of the corridor to 500 meters by the immediate-past administration, which is the current bone of contention by the agitators, and further to which he advised the governor on exploring a win-win solution to the issue.
While Oba Ladoja admitted that the potentials of the Circular Road for the socio-economic development of Ibadan and Oyo State were not in doubt, he strongly canvassed that those whose properties would be impacted by its implementation should be adequately and promptly compensated in tandem with the prevailing economic realities.
The foremost Oba also pinpointed the prevalence of land speculators along the Circular Road axis, urging operatives of OYNTCDA and other concerned MDAs to safeguard unsuspecting members of the public against falling for their antics.
Oba Ladoja concluded his remarks by advising that the state government should consider introducing a rail system running parallel to the Circular Road to complement transportation of goods and materials along the industrial hubs, as well as installing weighbridges on the road to ensure it would last its design lifespan.
Giving a vote of thanks on behalf of the committee, the Executive Chairman of Egbeda LGA (who doubles as the vice-chairman of the committee), Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda, saluted Kabiyesi’s passion and vigour in the service of Ibadanland and Oyo State before and since his ascension to the throne.
He promised the monarch that his counsel and suggestions would be brought to bear on the committee’s assignment.
Other members of the committee who were in attendance at the courtesy visit included the Executive Chairman of Lagelu LGA, Hon. Kamorudeen Mudashiru; Mogaji Olawale Oladoja (Mogaji Akinsola); Mogaji Adewale Badmus (Mogaji Itabigbo); and Mogaji Adewale Bankole (Mogaji Alago).
Aside the management and staff of OYNTCDA, representatives of ministries of Land, Housing & Urban Development; Works & Public Infrastructure; and Justice, as well as Office of the Executive Adviser to the Governor on Security were also in attendance.
The committee then proceeded on its third batch of the surveillance visits to Egbeda and Lagelu LGAs, during which it met with the community people at various spots, including Fasade, Ayede, Ejioku, Idi-Igba/Aba Oyo, and Eni-Oosa.
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