Governor Seyi Makinde has calmed tensions over the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project, assuring protesters that the government is ready to reduce the proposed 500-meter setback wherever the terrain, existing settlements or technical reviews make such a distance impractical.
He however, insisted the standards guiding the 110-kilometre infrastructure cannot be compromised.
He made the commitment during a dialogue with property owners and community leaders who had protested what they described as excessive and indiscriminate setback markings along the corridor.
The meeting was in fulfilment of his earlier promise to visit the Ologuneru axis and hear directly from the affected residents.
For several hours, he listened to complaints and re-explained the logic behind the development corridor. He promised that every unresolved issue around the setbacks will be tied up before the end of his administration in 2027. He also reaffirmed that compensations will be handled diligently, adding that no house will be touched without proper payment to its owner.
Makinde noted that adjustments have already been planned for built-up zones, where the setback will not exceed 150 meters. He reminded the residents that the Circular Road is a rapid-transfer route designed to handle vehicles moving at high speed, which makes adherence to the highway code essential. Even a single-lane federal highway, he pointed out, requires a 50-meter setback.
He commended the 38 affected communities for their organization and patience, announcing that the residents will nominate ten representatives to work hand-in-hand with the New Towns and Cities Development Authority, the agency now solely responsible for the corridor interface.
“You put this government in office, and for more than six years we haven’t failed you. We won’t start now,” he said, pointing out that the location of their meeting sat directly on the planned road alignment where houses had already sprung up. He explained that many administrations abandon difficult legacy projects toward the end of their tenure, but that he chose to confront long-standing problems rather than shift them to another government.
Makinde walked the residents through the three segments of the Circular Road. The first stretch, from the Technical University to the Ibadan-Ife Road at Badeku, is now nearing completion. That segment also came with similar setback challenges which were resolved after consultations, he said. The second segment, from Badeku to Moniya, is underway with bridges and hydraulic structures progressing. The final stretch, from Moniya back to Tech-U through Ologuneru, will fall to the next administration.
He stressed again that no house will be demolished without compensation and urged residents to engage constructively. Built-up communities, he assured, will not be subjected to excessive markings and any setback demarcation beyond 150 metres in such areas should be dismissed.
Westernmirror.com.ng had earlier reported how some protesters raised concerns about displacement, compensation and insufficient consultation. When the governor visited the Oluyole and Badeku stretch, residents publicly distanced themselves from individuals seen in viral videos frying bean pudding at the protest site. They clarified that those individuals were not affected property owners, suggesting they were aligned with political interests rather than genuine stakeholders.
Makinde told the gathering that the government has no intention of pushing development at the expense of citizens’ livelihoods. He said he accepted the inconvenience of advancing a massive infrastructural project rather than opting for an easier political path. He added that the road is not a neighbourhood link route but a high-speed transit spine with strict safety requirements.
Speaking with journalists after an assessment tour in company of all involved Ibadan mogajis, Makinde explained that disagreements are normal but dialogue is the only path to clarity.
He addressed earlier claims that genuine protesters had been misrepresented as street food vendors, noting that the residents had already clarified the misunderstanding. He jokingly added that he brought his own akara as well, lightening the mood.
Pressed further again on whether the 500-meter setback could be reconsidered, he said flexibility will be applied wherever justified.
“This isn’t like a road between Oje and Bere,” he said. “It’s a rapid-transit corridor. People will be moving fast, so standards must be respected. Still, we agree that in some places 500 meters won’t work. We will maintain the minimum required for safety and adjust where the realities demand it.”
He assured that a joint technical and social team will continue to evaluate the corridor in sections and revise measurements wherever evidence supports it. He emphasized that the long-term gains of the Circular Road will transform mobility and reduce the load on existing major roads across Ibadan.
Earlier at Idi-Igbaro in Ido Local Government, Mogaji Abass Oloko urged residents to approach development issues with restraint. The Leader of Ido LG, Niyi Akintola SAN, asked residents to stay calm and engage the government in good faith. He blamed many of the current disputes on private developers who misled unsuspecting buyers by selling lands that were already part of government layouts or future development plans.
Representatives of the affected communities, including Niyi Fasuyi, Chief Abolade Idi-igbaro, the Baale (community chief) of Idi-igbaro and others, spoke about the emotional and financial implications of displacement tied to the 500-meter setback.
They appealed for compassion while acknowledging the importance of the Circular Road. They stressed that their protest was not an attack on the governor, whom they described as the best the state has seen, but a plea for fair treatment.