Makinde Claims Protesters for Ibadan Circular Road Are Being Sponsored, Refuses to Negotiate

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has publicly refused to meet with protesters opposing the Ibadan Circular Road corridor project, declaring that the demonstration is not purely grassroots. Speaking at a project commissioning in Ibadan, he asserted that “some people are sponsoring them,” and indicated that he will instead visit the corridor himself to speak only with real property owners in the affected area.

The governor’s remarks come amid a wave of protests by residents across multiple local government areas, including Ido, Lagelu, Akinyele, Oluyole, Ona-Ara and Egbeda, who have blockaded major roads and carried placards demanding that the project’s corridor width not be extended beyond the 150-metre originally approved. They fear widespread demolition, displacement and loss of property.

Makinde challenged critics to trace any land acquired by the government under his watch: “If I leave office in 18 months’ time and you see my name on any land acquired by the government, please call me out publicly,” he declared. He described the verbal attacks such as being labelled “thief” and “land grabber” as painful yet unshaken his resolve.

The protesters argue that the original 150-metre corridor, gazetted during former administrations, should be maintained and that any extension to 500 metres or more threatens homes, farmlands and community integrity. The governor’s refusal to engage them directly raises concerns about dispute management and dialogue mechanisms.

Analysts suggest the governor’s strategy reflects both frustration and tactical positioning: by suggesting external sponsorship of the protest, he shifts the narrative from community grievance to political manipulation. However, the risk is that genuine property owners may feel their voices are being dismissed as inauthentic, fueling further distrust.

Traffic disruption from the protests has compounded commuter hardship, while the controversial corridor extension has become a symbol of broader anxieties over land rights, compensation, resettlement and government-property interfaces in Ibadan. The governor’s comments may inflame tensions unless a transparent stakeholder process is established.

For the government, the test now will be whether it can reconcile infrastructure ambitions with affected community rights. The “first-freeway” vision for the circular road is ambitious and may deliver economic benefits, but failure to manage local concerns could turn infrastructure into source of conflict rather than inclusion.

In the weeks ahead, key indicators will include: whether Makinde and his team hold community hearings, the transparency of land acquisition and compensation plans, how the protest’s demands are addressed, and whether genuine residents feel represented in the dialogue—or continue to feel sidelined. The outcome may shape public trust not just in this project but in the broader approach to development in Oyo State.