The Oyo State Government announced on April 18, 2025, a landmark initiative to resolve decades-long boundary disputes across 12 of its 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs), aiming to restore peace and foster development.
It was reported that Governor Seyi Makinde inaugurated a 15-member Boundary Dispute Resolution Committee, chaired by Deputy Governor Adebayo Lawal, to mediate conflicts in areas including Ibadan North, Ogbomoso South, and Saki West. The disputes, some dating back to the 1976 LGA creation, stem from unclear demarcations, land ownership claims, and resource control, often fueling communal clashes and stalling projects.
The committee, comprising surveyors, traditional rulers, and legal experts, has a six-month mandate to review historical records, consult stakeholders, and propose permanent boundaries using GIS mapping. Makinde cited recent violence in Oke-Ogun, where two deaths and 10 injuries occurred over farmland disputes, as a catalyst for action.
The government has allocated ₦500 million for the initiative, including compensation for affected communities and infrastructure upgrades in resolved areas. Over 50,000 residents across the 12 LGAs, which house 30% of Oyo’s 7 million population, are expected to benefit, per state estimates.
Community leaders, like the Alaafin of Oyo, praised the move, but some residents fear political bias in boundary delineations, recalling past failed efforts. Nigeria’s broader land dispute crisis, with 1,200 annual deaths per ACLED, underscores the urgency. The initiative aligns with Makinde’s 2023 re-election pledge to enhance rural harmony, critical for Oyo’s ₦3 trillion economy, driven by agriculture and trade.