When we first embarked on the 110-kilometre Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road, I made a promise — that this project would not only open up Oyo State for greater growth, but that it would be executed with fairness and respect for the people whose lives it touches. That promise still stands.
Listening, Understanding — and Acting on Residents’ Concerns
In a visit to Ologuneru, in Ido Local Government Area, I met with residents directly affected by the road’s development. Many recalled our discussion in 2024, when we agreed to reduce the originally acquired 500-metre corridor on each side of the road to 150 metres in already built-up zones — with 500 metres only retained in undeveloped areas. That decision allowed us to complete nearly the first 32 km of the road with minimal displacement.
As the project advances into the second segment — roughly 40 kilometres — a number of fears and misconceptions have resurfaced. During my meeting, I listened carefully. I empathized. And I reminded residents of the reality: building a modern, safe road requires adherence to standards that ensure safety, future expansion, and orderly development. The policy remains unchanged: 150 metres corridor in populated zones, and 500 metres only in undeveloped areas.
To avoid confusion, I have directed the following:
Any markings beyond 150 metres on either side, in populated zones, should be considered void.
The Oyo State New Towns and Cities Development Authority (OYNTCDA) will serve as the single official channel for all community-government engagements.
No demolition will occur without prior compensation.
All cases where compensation has been unfair or inadequate will be revisited and corrected.
My visit was not just a restatement of policy — it was a reaffirmation that we are building this road together. The Circular Road is not merely about asphalt and bridges; it's about a development corridor that will shape Oyo’s future for generations.
From Corridor to Corridor of Opportunity — Vision for Economic Growth
The question before us is no longer whether to have a corridor — but what we will choose to build on it. This is where opportunity lies. The corridor will host:
Light manufacturing and assembly plants
Logistics and warehousing hubs
Commercial and showroom spaces
Residential housing estates and mixed-use developments
Critical utilities — power, water, fibre
I call on investors — particularly in light industry, logistics, and housing — to join us in transforming the first segment of the corridor starting from the Tech U axis. Together, we can turn the Circular Road into a living, breathing economic spine that powers jobs, housing, and innovation across Oyo State.
Agribusiness: The Other Side of the Growth Story
Our commitment to broad-based growth isn’t limited to infrastructure. Agriculture — agribusiness, in particular — remains a central pillar of our economic vision.
The Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub has been officially designated as Nigeria’s first Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ). This recognition from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) marks a significant milestone for agricultural transformation in Oyo State.
Through the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), we have already attracted substantial investments into agribusiness — with about N46.6 billion pumped in, supporting over 46,000 smallholder farmers.
Our efforts go beyond crops. We are building processing zones, livestock value-chains, and industrial-scale farms. At Fasola alone:
Hundreds of hectares of farmland have been cultivated.
Multiple agribusiness firms now operate — processing cassava, tomatoes, cashew; some focusing on equipment leasing, logistics, and mechanised agriculture.
Thousands of youths have been trained in agribusiness, and many are set to benefit from support packages, including one backed by a N1.5 billion initiative in partnership with the banking sector.
All this confirms that agribusiness — once viewed as a rural fallback — is now a thriving, modern engine for jobs, food security, and industrial growth in Oyo.
Coming Soon: OYSIABS 2025 — A Platform for Partnership & Growth
To build momentum and set a clear roadmap for the future, we will host the Oyo State International Agribusiness Summit (OYSIABS 2025) from 3 – 4 December, at the headquarters of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Oyo State Agribusiness Transformation Centre, Fasola.
This summit will offer a fertile ground for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and partnerships — bridging government, investors, agribusiness firms, and smallholder farmers. It’s an invitation for everyone — youth, women, investors, and value-chain actors — to seize the massive opportunities waiting in Oyo’s farmland, factories, and communities.
A Personal Note: December — My Birth Month & Our Growth Celebration
On a lighter note, December happens to be my birth month. But this December, more than past birthdays, I look forward to celebrating what we have achieved — together. The Circular Road, the agribusiness revolution, job creation, urban expansion: these are not just milestones for me, but for every resident of Oyo State.
Let’s build — with fairness, growth, and shared prosperity at the center.
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