Residents of several communities in Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan have taken to the streets to protest the planned extension of lands marked for the construction of the Ibadan Circular Road.

The peaceful protest took place on Monday at the entrance of the Oyo State Government Secretariat, with demonstrators urging the state government to stick to the originally designated 150-metre corridor for the road project.

The Circular Road project, first initiated during Governor Rasidi Ladoja’s administration between 2003 and 2007, remained dormant under his successor, the late Adebayo Alao-Akala. It was later revived and construction began under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi during his tenure from 2011 to 2019.

However, fresh concerns have emerged over the current administration’s plans to expand the land allocation beyond the already marked areas.

Holding placards that read “150 Metres Is Enough” and “Our People Are Dying Daily”, the protesters expressed fears that the expansion would displace more residents and cause further hardship.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, community representative Ismail Qamardeen Abimbola said many villages are already affected by the initial land demarcation. These include Solalu, Alagbede, Olukitibi, Akinwande, Omilabu, Aba Odo, Oke Ola, and several others.

“We’re appealing to the state government to reconsider this planned extension. The current 150-metre corridor has already taken a toll on many families. People are anxious, and some are suffering in silence,” Abimbola said.

The residents are calling on Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to honour the original boundaries and avoid expanding the project further into residential lands. They maintain that while they are not against development, it must not come at the cost of their homes and livelihoods.