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Ibadan Circular Road Residents Seek Justice and Transparency Amid Project Concerns
Residents along the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor have voiced their mounting apprehensions regarding the ongoing road construction through an open letter addressed to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Senator) Rashidi Adewolu Akanmu Ladoja. The community members are increasingly uneasy about the project’s execution, fearing a lack of fairness and transparency.
Community Leaders Appeal for Olubadan’s Intervention
Represented by Chief Adedeji Hammed Lamolo and Azeez Abass Olaide, Chairman and Secretary of the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor Residents Association respectively, the landowners implored the Olubadan to step in. They highlighted concerns about the project’s management, emphasizing the need for equitable treatment and openness in dealings affecting their properties and livelihoods.
The residents expressed dissatisfaction with the government-appointed committee tasked with stakeholder engagement. They claim the committee instructed them to refrain from public discussions, especially on radio and social media, while paradoxically continuing to make public statements themselves. This contradictory behavior has deepened mistrust among the affected communities.
Key Demands for Fair Project Implementation
The letter outlines four principal demands directed at the government:
- Reinstatement of the Original 75-Meter Acquisition Boundary: The residents urge a return to the initially established 75 meters on either side of the road’s midpoint, a boundary legally set during Senator Rasheed Ladoja’s administration in 2006 and recognized by subsequent governments. They warn that expanding beyond this limit could lead to legal challenges and erode public trust.
- Acquisition of Only Undeveloped Land Through Proper Channels: Should additional land be necessary for industrial or economic purposes, the government is encouraged to focus on undeveloped areas to avoid displacing established communities unjustly, thereby minimizing social upheaval and compensation costs.
- Timely and Fair Compensation: The residents demand that compensation be fully paid before any demolition occurs to prevent homelessness. They also call for reassessment and adequate recompense for those previously displaced without fair settlement.
- Respect for Existing Communities: Longstanding neighborhoods within the original corridor should remain undisturbed. Property owners must be allowed to obtain necessary land documentation, such as Certificates of Occupancy and building permits, without undue hindrance.
Concerns Over Communication and Trust Deficit
The residents lament the lack of transparency, noting that outcomes from meetings between the committee and the Olubadan have not been shared with the affected communities. This selective information flow has fostered suspicion and a growing divide between stakeholders and project leaders. The residents stress that sustainable development cannot be achieved without genuine dialogue and accountability.
They emphasize that imposed silence without clear communication breeds distrust rather than cooperation, urging the Olubadan, revered for his commitment to justice, to facilitate open, inclusive discussions that restore confidence in the project’s management.
Commitment to Progress with Justice
Despite their grievances, the residents reaffirm their support for the Circular Road project, recognizing its potential to enhance connectivity and drive economic growth in Oyo State. They advocate for a development process that is not only visionary but also humane, lawful, and respectful of the rights and welfare of all stakeholders.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Balanced Development
As infrastructure projects like the Ibadan Circular Road continue to shape urban landscapes across Nigeria, balancing progress with social justice remains critical. According to recent data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, urban infrastructure investments have surged by 15% in the past two years, underscoring the importance of inclusive planning to avoid community displacement and unrest.
The residents’ appeal serves as a reminder that successful urban development hinges on transparent governance, fair compensation, and meaningful community engagement-principles that must guide the Ibadan Circular Road project to fruition.
