The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has appealed to the Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to make rehabilitation and construction of local access roads a priority to ease transportation and address traffic gridlocks across the state’s local government areas.
Oba Ladoja made the call at the International Conference Centre of University of Ibadan during the Stakeholders’ Consultative and Engagement Meeting on the 2026 budget. The session, which focused on Ibadan main city – comprising Ibadan South-West, South-East, North-East, North-West, and Ibadan North – drew participants from across the city.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the monarch’s representative, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, commended Governor Makinde for ongoing development projects, including major state and federal roads and the upgrade of Ibadan Airport to international standard. He, however, stressed that adjoining local roads remained in poor condition and required urgent intervention.
“The adjoining local roads are not motorable. If the local governments don’t have funds, I appeal to the governor to approve money and mandate at least five local roads for construction in each area,” the monarch stated.
The consultative forum, organised by the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde, brought together artisans, market leaders, people with disabilities, youth organisations, labour unions, religious groups, traditional rulers, pensioners, and professional bodies, including Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
Pensioners, led by Comrade Olusegun Abatan, also lauded the governor’s support since 2019, noting that the administration had increased their monthly pension from ₦350 to ₦25,000, making them “the highest paid in the federation.” They, however, demanded an upward review of the minimum pension to ₦60,000, in line with the national directive, and called for the implementation of the ₦32,000 circular and payment of the outstanding ₦14,000 balance for this year.
Many stakeholders, including DAWN Commission DG, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, described Makinde as the “Oyato Governor,” commending him for infrastructural strides that have transformed the state.
In his response, Governor Makinde said the meeting – the seventh in the series – was aimed at ensuring the 2026 budget reflects the priorities of the people. He pledged to collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies to incorporate the stakeholders’ demands into the final budget before presenting it to the Oyo State House of Assembly by December 20.
