Ibadan residents protest demolition along Circular Road as govt promises reprieve

House and property owners along the ongoing Circular Road project from six local councils of Oluyole, Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Ido, Lagelu and Akinyele have staged a peaceful protest at the Oyo State Secretariat Complex, Ibadan, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to stop the demolition.

The residents, who had carried out similar protests some months ago over the demolition, brandished placards with various inscriptions, such as ‘Leave Ibadan Circular Road residents alone’, ‘there is no law prohibiting Nigerians from building at the corridor’, ‘don’t demolish our houses’, ‘stop demolishing our buildings’.

They lamented the government’s alleged decision to take 500 metres each from the left and right side of the road against the 175 metres initially planned.

The protesters claimed that some members of the communities have died, while others have ended up in hospitals as a result of shock following the demolition and proposed demolition of properties they laboured hard to acquire.

A spokesperson for the protesters, Mr Ifaola Ifaniyi, who hails from Ona Ara Local Council, said: “They initially marked out 175 metres for both sides. All the communities across the six councils are protesting this move. They are dribbling us and destroying our houses. Many have developed stroke and other ailments because of the demolition. The government wants to take 500 metres to the left and 500 metres to the right on the road. This is too much.”

Another protester, Abayomi Akinfemiwa, said: “The agitation started in February this year. Why does the government want 500 metres after the Circular Road? Let the governor come around to address us. They should tell us the true picture of the matter. They still carried out demolition last week.”

A resident, Abass Akeem from Egbeda Local Council, said: “People are dying. Some have hypertension and are attempting suicide because of the demolition. Someone has five houses, and they are in line for demolition. The man is almost dead. He is in hospital now.”

Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security Matters, Babatunde Sunday Odukoya, who addressed the protesters, said he would deliver their message to the governor.

He urged them to form a committee and liaise with their council chairmen to deal with the matter appropriately.