Oyo appeals for calm as protests over circular road persist

The Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development has appealed to residents of the state affected by the Circular Road corridor to embrace dialogue.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Morohunkola Thomas, made the appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to The PUNCH in Ibadan, the state capital.

“The Circular road is a major infrastructure project which aims to ease traffic congestion, open new opportunities, improve transportation and enhance the overall quality of life of people across the state,” Thomas said.

This comes in the wake of the ongoing protest against the 500-metre Circular Road corridor.

Last week, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that the Rashidi Ladoja 110-kilometre Circular Road is not merely a road project, but an economic backbone.

According to the DG of OYMASED, the state government also feels the pain of people affected by the demolition but noted that development cannot take place if major decisions are not taken.

He appealed to the protesters to sheathe their sword, see beyond today, and embrace the development the government is bringing to the state.

“The long-term socio-economic development of the circular road will soon be felt by all residents of the state,” he said, calling on the affected residents “to embrace dialogue and not allow politicians to infiltrate their ranks.”

Affected residents of the Ibadan Circular Road Corridor project have been staging protests, some of which have left motorists and commuters stranded.

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