As the Oyo State Government prioritises the development of the 110 km Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, Ibadan project, questions have arisen from residents, investors and the general public. Here are the facts:
Q1: Why has land been acquired along the Circular Road corridor?
The Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road is a 110-kilometre infrastructure project that forms the backbone of the new Ibadan Master Plan (2017). It is designed to open up new residential, commercial, and industrial corridors that will drive investment and decongest the city centre.
To achieve this, land was acquired for the right of way and for controlled development zones that will ensure safety, proper drainage and organised growth.
Q2: When was land acquired for the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road?
The initial 150 metres right of way (75 metres on each side) was acquired and compensated for in 2005 under the administration of then Governor Rashidi Ladoja.
In 2017, the Oyo State Government under Governor Abiola Ajimobi expanded the acquisition to 1 kilometre (500 metres on each side) to align with the new Ibadan Master Plan and global standards for urban growth and infrastructure safety.
Q3: Why is there confusion about the 1-kilometre corridor?
Over time, some individuals and communities have developed structures within the already acquired setback.
This has created overlaps between the officially mapped corridor and residential areas that developed over time, leading to misunderstanding and tension around demolition and compensation.
Q4: What is the government’s current position?
The government is taking a balanced and humane approach.
In densely built-up communities, only the 150 metres setback on each side will be implemented — 75 metres for the road’s right of way and 75 metres for service and safety buffers.
So far, in the initial 32.2 kilometre stretch, fewer than 1,400 structures have been identified as potentially affected.
In undeveloped areas, the entire 1-kilometre corridor will be retained to preserve the integrity of the master plan and to attract investment for future development.
Q5: Are structures to be demolished outside the 150-metre corridor?
No. Only structures within the clearly demarcated 150-metre corridor are affected.
Survey teams are on ground to ensure accuracy, and every affected property has been physically marked and documented in line with due process.
Any structure outside the 150-metre corridor remains untouched.
Q6: What about compensation?
Compensation is ongoing and handled according to existing laws and due process.
Property owners are being verified through transparent documentation exercises to ensure fairness, accountability, and timely payment.
To date, about ₦800 million has already been disbursed to verified about 190 claimants, with more scheduled for payment as assessments conclude.
Q7: Is this a political issue?
No. The Circular Road corridor development is a long-term infrastructure project that has spanned multiple administrations since 2005.
It is not a partisan initiative but part of the State Government’s commitment to building a sustainable and investor-ready Ibadan in line with the approved Master Plan (2017).
Q8: What happens after this phase?
Once the corridor is established, it will be opened to investors under a Public-Private Partnership model, creating light industrial clusters, logistics hubs, housing estates and service zones.
This development will boost employment, increase local economic activity, and enhance property values in adjoining communities.
Q9: What should residents do?
Residents are encouraged to:
- Verify property claims during compensation exercises.
- Avoid new construction within the marked corridor.
- Engage peacefully through official channels for clarification or documentation.
Q10: Is the corridor being implemented beyond the 150-metre setback in built-up communities?
No. In built-up residential areas, the corridor covers 150 metres on each side of the road — 75 metres for the right of way and an additional 75 metres as a safety and service corridor.
This standard follows international best practices for major highways, providing room for utilities, service lanes, drainage, and community access roads.
It also ensures that communities along the route will have secondary entryways and can move freely within their areas without paying tolls on the expressway.
Q11: Who will benefit from the corridor and how will the land be used?
The corridor will be opened to verified investors through a transparent Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.
The aim is to attract logistics hubs, housing estates, service areas, and light industrial clusters that create jobs and raise property values in adjoining communities.
The government’s goal is sustainable development that benefits residents and the wider economy.
Q12: How is the government ensuring fairness and transparency in the compensation and acquisition process?
All affected structures have been surveyed, numbered, and documented, and property owners are being verified before payments are made.
The compensation process is governed by State acquisition laws, ensuring fairness and traceability at every stage.
To date, about ₦800 million has been paid to verified claimants, with further disbursements scheduled as assessments conclude.
The government encourages residents to use official communication channels for any clarification or grievance.
Q13: If compensation was already paid during Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s administration, why is the government compensating people again?
The compensation paid in 2005 by Governor Rashidi Ladoja was for the original 150-metre right of way (75m on each side).
However, in 2017, the corridor was expanded by 425 metres on each side — comprising 75 metres for the safety and service corridor, and an additional 350 metres for planned development zones such as logistics hubs, industrial clusters, housing estates and service areas.
In densely populated communities, the government has chosen a humane approach by restricting implementation to the 150-metre stretch (right of way + safety corridor).
This ensures residents are protected while still meeting international standards for safety, access, and orderly development.
Because this additional 75 metres on each side forms part of the expanded corridor not covered in 2005, affected owners are being verified and compensated accordingly.
Q14: Has this project changed under the current administration?
No. The Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road is a continuity project that has spanned several administrations in Oyo State.
The corridor expansion—which introduced the additional 425 metres on each side (75m for safety and service, and 350m for future development zones)—was adopted as part of the Ibadan Master Plan published in 2018.
The present administration is implementing that same master plan with greater attention to human impact and urban safety.
By restricting implementation in built-up areas to only 150 metres on each side, the government is balancing development with compassion, ensuring that Ibadan’s long-term growth vision continues without unnecessary hardship to residents.
Q15: Is it true that millions of people are directly affected by the Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project?
No. Verified data from field surveys show that the claim of “one million affected persons” is inaccurate.
Across the first 32.2-kilometre segment of the Circular Road Corridor:
- Total buildings within the full 500-metre setback: 7,340
- Side A: 4,666
- Side B: 2,674
- Side A: 4,666
- Buildings affected within the 150-metre acquisition zone: 1,354
- Side A: 734
- Side B: 620
- Side A: 734
- Buildings not affected: 5,986
- Percentage affected: 18%
- Percentage not affected: 82%
This means that more than four out of every five buildings within the mapped corridor remain untouched.
Even if each affected structure houses an extended family, the total number of individuals directly impacted would be in the thousands, not millions.
Large sections of the corridor remain undeveloped or agricultural land, and the government has deliberately limited implementation in built-up areas to the 150-metre corridor to reduce human impact.
The Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, Ibadan is a legacy infrastructure project for the future of Oyo State.