Ibadan is a city with a rich history.  It is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area, by population, in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area in the country. At Nigerian independence in 1960, Ibadan was the largest and most populous city in the country and the third in Africa after Cairo and Johannesburg.

Ibadan is a marriage between modernity and tradition and this is reflected in its population distribution. There are areas where the rich and middle class dwell; namely Bodija, Ashi, Akobo, Oluyole Estate, Iyanganku, Jericho and environs and then there are the areas where the predominant lower class members dwell; Oje, Beere, Ode ge, Odinjo, Idi Arere and environs.
Sequel to the pronounced intersperse between modernity and tradition which Ibadan represents, many people are of the view that the city is a rustic one.  But one road in the city has succeeded in changing all that.
Ring Road, as it has been called since inception, is gradually evolving from a residential area to a hugely patronized commercial hub of the city.

Before now, Ring Road had been home to a few offices, car marts, banks and insurance companies. However, all that has changed as the dual carriage road has become the toast of investors who daily search for available buildings on it to open for businesses. Ring Road could be likened to Lagos’ Broad Street because every business outfit that is worth its salt is rushing at the prospect of owning a piece of property along the now very popular road.

Today, on a road that comprises of five roundabouts, there are over 10 nightclubs (with some of them sometimes located side by side or across one another), numerous hotels, popular eateries and virtually all popular banks having a branch on it. The road is also now home to most of the leading car dealerships ranging from Honda, Kia, Ford, Hyundai etc while used car dealers (Tokunbo) also have offices along the road.

And so, currently, as a result of its high patronage, Ibadan is proud of Ring Road, in terms of internally generated revenues from taxes and indeed, the road is wearing a new look as the Local Government Area in charge of the district is leaving no stone unturned in making the road as attractive as can be to investors and residents alike.
“What could be the cause of the transformation?” one might be forced to ask. According to the Nigerian Tribune finding, the most subscribed reason behind this is that it is situated close to the entrance to Ibadan from Lagos.

Others cited its easy accessibility and good road network as being responsible for the preference which it currently enjoys. Also, as many of the multi-national companies and banks on Ring Road have lived up to their expectation by performing their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) as they have embarked on one form of beautification or the other of the road as approved by the authorities, the general appeal generated by their actions further prospered the road endearment as an area that would be highly lucrative for business and residence alike. These have greatly shot up the market value of land and buildings on and around Ring Road.

According to the Nigerian Tribune investigations, mixed feelings have trailed the ‘invasion’ of the commercial centres that now do business on the road. While some people, mostly youths, are thankful and appreciate the influx of investors, especially the relaxation centres and shopping malls, other people have been skeptical of the increase in commercial activities which has resulted in increase in traffic, both human and vehicular into the area.

They also linked the development to an increase in criminal activities which, in recent times, were alleged to be on the rise.
However, most business investors on the road denied the allegation of making Ring Road a target for petty criminals, stressing that though their presence had increased the value of the area and Ibadan in general, they (business owners), had also provided adequate security measures around their various establishments, in conjunction with the police, to provide cover for their businesses and residents around the area.

They added that making the road attractive for business by the state government had also led to immense increase in the internally generated revenue for the state which in turn was used to beautify other areas within Oyo.
It could be said that the beautification of Ring Road is indeed catching up with other areas within the state as the on-going beautification exercise by the state government has been yielding immense benefits.

Today, Ibadan is fast becoming a preferred destination for business owing to the large population and land mass and investors are already bringing their business interests to all parts of the city.  Suburbs like Molete through to Gate areas are now wearing a new look; neater streets and less crowded alleyways, which are made so by the Oyo State Road and Traffic Management Agency (OYSRTMA). Erring drivers are now promptly booked for offences, thereby ensuring free flow of traffic around the large city.

The major bridges have also been maintained while new ones are built, where necessary in order to free traffic and also combat flooding in different areas in the state, while the dredging of major rivers is ongoing.  As one person put it, “Ibadan is fast becoming an ‘alakowe’s’ (elite) city and residents are beginning to see an emerging organized mega-city.”
Speaking on the seriousness that the state government attached to the beautification exercise, the state Commissioner for Environment and Habitat, Mr Lowo Obisesan, said that it had come to stay and that there would be no going back in the commitment of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration at making Ibadan and the entire Oyo State look better in the next few months.

He maintained that the on-going beautification exercise in Ibadan was part of the efforts of the governor at bringing about the much needed transformation and restoration agenda of the state in line with its set goals.

He added that apart from the beautification exercise of the state government, the governor had also mandated local governments in the state to commence beautification exercise in their respective areas especially the council headquarters to make the exercise total.

Ring Road, nay Ibadan is undergoing a positive transformation. However, this change is not unconnected with the state governor’s resolve to make the state a prime place for doing business and Ring Road, which before now, was not a known business area like Dugbe and Bodija is a good testimony to his transformation agenda.

http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/component/k2/item/5061-ring-road-changing-the-face-of-ibadan-city

This piece is from the tribune? How did it pass editorial scrutiny?

hercules07: This piece is from the tribune? How did it pass editorial scrutiny?

Who reads tribune as a newspaper of source junk journalism is their pride..

So where is the ring on the road now