Akinpelu Fatimoh

This might be news to some people, but for thousands of Ibadan residents, homelessness is no longer a fear — it is their reality.

The cause? Not a natural disaster or war, but a government-backed demolition tied to the controversial Ibadan Circular Road project.

What is the Ibadan Circular Road project?
The project is a massive 110-kilometre highway designed to encircle the city and connect major expressways such as Lagos-Ibadan, Ibadan-Ife, and Ibadan-Ogbomoso in Nigeria.

First conceived during Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s administration (2003–2007), the project stalled for years and was later revived under Governor Abiola Ajimobi. It is now being aggressively pushed forward by Governor Seyi Makinde, the current governor of Oyo State.

While the aim of the project is to promote economic growth, its implementation has come with a devastating human cost.

The original 110-kilometre plan is not the main issue, as the land had already been marked out. Citizens whose homes lie within the marked space have already had their houses demolished. This can be attributed to what may be called negligence, as it is imperative to check land status under official maps before purchasing.

Yes, the real issue lies in the 500-metre clearance policy along each side of the road — officially claimed at times to be 150 metres, but in practice often far exceeding that.

In communities where the demolition is set to take place, many already lack basic social amenities such as good roads, electricity supply, and internet connection. Instead of addressing these problems, the government has focused solely on demolishing houses — a clear case of misplaced priority.

The project’s mission has already changed from economic development to profit-based land grabbing — securing plots along the Circular Road sides without even paying the residents a penny. People now live in their own homes, built with hard-earned money, in constant fear of demolition.

The project now aims at wiping out not only the road corridor but also entire neighborhoods, farmlands, religious centres, and small businesses.
The scale of displacement is staggering. Many residents whose homes were demolished reported being given little or no warning before bulldozers arrived, and many had nowhere else to go.

Some of the statements gathered include:
“We are traumatized, living in fear of displacement and the realization that our source of livelihood was about to be lost.”   Representative of affected communities, BusinessDay Nigeria, Sept. 2024.

“Please sir, we are begging you, don’t send us out of our homes. We don’t have anywhere else to go.”  Protesting residents, The Guardian Nigeria, Sept. 2024.


Local leaders have reported cases of elderly homeowners collapsing from shock after receiving demolition notices, with some passing away and others hospitalized.

Despite weeks of protests, petitions, and public pleas, the administration seems heedless. To many, the government appears deaf to the cries of displaced citizens, more concerned with the speed of construction than with the survival of those in its path.

Advocates of the road highlight its long-term benefits: improved traffic flow, reduced travel times, and a modern infrastructure network that could attract investments to Oyo State.

But for those now sleeping in churches, schools, or open fields, the Circular Road represents not development but a slow, state-sponsored calamity, a project that has broken homes and hearts in the name of progress.