Oyo Residents Protest Gov Makinde’s Alleged Land Grab

Residents of Oyo State, alongside members of the African Action Congress (AAC), staged a protest in Ibadan on Monday against what they described as Governor Seyi Makinde’s renewed attempt to seize lands under the Ibadan Circular Road expansion project.

Carrying placards and chanting slogans against the government, the demonstrators claimed the governor plans to take an extra 500 metres of land on both sides of the road corridor, in addition to the 150 metres already acquired.

One protester told SaharaReporters, “People are out today because Makinde wants to take another 500 metres on the corridor, on top of the initial 150 metres. Nowhere in the world would a road corridor require that much land. The 150 metres he initially took was acceptable.”

Another accused the governor of using the project to benefit his associates . “He first took 150 metres, and now he wants to grab another 500 metres on both sides to sell to his cronies. This is unacceptable,” the protester said.

The demonstrators urged the state government to suspend the proposed expansion, warning that it would displace hundreds of families and destroy farmlands already affected by the first phase of the project.

AAC leaders vowed to resist what they called “land grabbing under the guise of development,” insisting that community rights be respected and the process be transparent.

Earlier, the Oyo State chapter of the AAC accused Governor Makinde of orchestrating a “massive and deceitful land-grabbing campaign” along the Ibadan Circular Road and had threatened to shut down the state for seven days in protest.

In a statement signed by the party’s state chairman, Kayode Babayomi David, the AAC said it stood with residents whose homes are slated for demolition, accusing the PDP-led administration of exploiting corridor expansion to enrich political allies.

“Makinde initially promised not to take more than 150 metres and assured that no homes would be demolished. Months later, he backtracked and claimed an extra 500 metres was needed. This is deceitful, and we will not allow it to happen,” the party said.

The AAC said it would continue mobilising residents, civil society groups, and traders to oppose the demolitions and occupy Ibadan until the government cancels the plan.