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500,000 risk eviction as Ibadan landlords reject Makinde’s 1,000m road plan
Tension is mounting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, as hundreds of landlords and landowners across six Local Government Areas have rejected Governor Seyi Makinde’s proposed acquisition of 1,000 metres of land for the Circular Road project, warning that the plan could render over 500,000 residents homeless.
The affected property owners, drawn from Ido, Akinyele, Egbeda, Lagelu, Oluyole, and Ona-Ara Local Government Areas, converged on Ologuneru on Saturday, where they unanimously condemned the policy, describing it as excessive, unjust, and capable of triggering a humanitarian crisis.
Operating under the Ibadan Circular Road and Corridor Stakeholders Forum, the landlords argued that the 1,000-metre development corridor being proposed for the 110-kilometre circular road project failed to meet due process requirements and does not serve public interest as claimed by the Oyo State Government.
Cross-section of landlords and landowners across the affected six Local Government Areas during the press conference yesterday in Ibadan
At a programme tagged “Meet and Greet”, held at Gbopa, Ologuneru, in Ido local government, the stakeholders disclosed that the government’s plan could gulp over 10,000 hectares of land spanning the six council areas.
They alleged that attempts to compel them to relocate to government-acquired lands were illegal, inhuman, and unjust, stressing that such action would dispossess families of ancestral lands and long-term investments.
Leaders of the group at the meeting included Awise Adewale Bogunmbe, Pastor Tosin Ogunsola, Baale Akinlawon (Mr. Olajire Muyiwa), Mrs. Olayinka Johnson, Mr. Femi Abiodun, Prince Salaudeen Sodiq, Alake Victoria, Engr. Lashinde Moruff, Mr. Ajao Babatunde Ibrahim, Iya Circular, and Mr. Dairo Kehinde.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, the leaders accused the state government of attempting to deploy executive powers to appropriate private properties under the guise of development, warning that the move would have grave socio-economic implications.
They revealed that affected residents had commenced a mass signature campaign to back a petition to the National Assembly, seeking urgent intervention to halt what they described as an abuse of power.
“We are not against development,” the group stated, “but development must be humane, lawful, and fair to the people whose lives and properties are directly affected.”
The stakeholders therefore demanded that the state government should immediately jettison the proposed development corridor and restrict the project to the initial 150 metres earlier earmarked for the road.
They further called for an immediate suspension of ongoing and planned demolitions along the right of way, insisting that no property should be touched without prompt and adequate compensation.
According to them, even the 150-metre width earlier proposed for the project remains excessive, urging the government to consider reducing it to about 60 metres in line with obtainable standards.
“There is no known road in Nigeria that spans 150 metres in width,” the group argued, noting that anything beyond reasonable limits raises questions about the true intention of the project.
The forum, however, clarified that its agitation was not politically motivated.
“We are not fighting Governor Makinde, and we are not being sponsored by any politician or political party. This is about our homes, our future, and the inheritance of our children,” the stakeholders declared.
Efforts to get an official reaction from the Oyo State Government were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has mourned the death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo, popularly known as Able, describing his demise as a painful loss to the progressive family.
Oladipupo, who represented Ibadan North-West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, was widely regarded as a grassroots politician and committed party loyalist until his passing.
Oseni, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the late politician’s death had created a vacuum within the party and among those who benefitted from his unwavering commitment to public service.
In a condolence statement issued on Monday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the federal lawmaker described the late Oladipupo as a dependable progressive, humble political actor and loyal party stalwart whose impact would remain indelible.
He said the deceased dedicated his life to serving humanity, strengthening the progressive movement and supporting the aspirations of many at the grassroots.
Oseni said, “The death of Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo (Able) came to me as a rude shock. Oyo State and the progressive family have indeed lost a committed, loyal and selfless leader whose passion for service, humility and dedication to the people stood him out.
“He was not just a politician but a bridge-builder, a dependable ally and a grassroots mobiliser who believed strongly in the ideals of our great party. His contributions to the growth of the APC in Oyo State and his service to humanity will remain unforgettable.”
The APC senatorial candidate noted that the late former lawmaker remained steadfast in promoting peace, unity and political development, adding that his simplicity and accessibility endeared him to many across political divides.
According to Oseni, the late politician’s legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire younger politicians and party faithful.
He, however, urged members of the APC, associates and family members of the deceased to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the positive impact he made during his lifetime.
Oseni also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”
The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.
Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.
The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.
The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.
The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.
The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.
A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.
Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.
However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.
The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.
Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.
At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.
Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.
Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.
According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.
Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.
The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.
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