The Aare-Onibon Olubadan of Ibadanland and National President of the Ibadan Descendants Union (IDU), USA, Oloye Abiola Iyiola, has called on the Oyo State Government to reserve 20 per cent of all ancestral lands in Ibadan being converted into Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) for Ibadan indigenes.
Iyiola made the appeal while speaking on ỌrọBadan, a programme on Ibadan Radio anchored by Kola Olomide.
According to him, the policy would ensure that Ibadan indigenes, particularly those living in the diaspora, have access to land within their ancestral city and are not excluded from ownership opportunities.
The IDU USA president expressed concern over what he described as the continuous allocation and sale of ancestral Ibadan lands to non-indigenes, arguing that the trend has made it difficult for many Ibadan natives to acquire land in their hometown.
He lamented a situation where indigenes are forced to repurchase lands from third parties after such lands had been allocated by the government, describing the development as unfair to the original owners of the ancestral heritage.
Iyiola further stated that the situation discourages many Ibadan indigenes abroad, who contribute to the development of the city, from returning home to invest or settle permanently.
He urged the state government to adopt measures that would protect the interests of Ibadan indigenes in land allocation while promoting inclusive development across the city.

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