‎Ogun: Alli-Isiba Protests Against Igbala Community Over Solmudia Company, Alleges Conspirational Betrayal‎

‎A group, under the aegis of Sango Stakeholders Assembly (SSA) in the Ado-Odo/Local Government Area of Ogun State, Saturday, July 2, 2025, took to the streets in protest against clamour for the re-opening of a street road, whose disadvantages outweigh its benefits to the entire community.

‎The protesters, mostly residents of Alli-Isiba, displayed various placards with such inscriptions as “We women are for the closure of the road; no more, no less”; “Let us sleep well by closing the road against hooligans into our communities”; “Alli-Isiba CDA says we are happy with Solmudia”; Solmudia, thanks for the 500kva transformer and N25m for our neighbour”; Thank you, Solmudia Coy. for being alive to your social responsibility”, among others.

‎The reason (s) adduced for the closure of the desolate Akinyemi Street in Igbala Phase 2, according to the protesters, is that it gave men of the underworld unhindered access into the communities to rob, in the process of which no fewer than three persons have been killed in the past.

‎In the words of Mrs. Azeez: “That road is nothing but a dangerous terrain through which bad boys infiltrate our community to perpetrate all forms of evil acts like vandalizing burglaries and carting them away; they cash in on the desolate nature of the road to waylay and rape. Worst still is that, once it is dusk – from 7:00pm- nobody dare makes use of the road. Rather than open it up and cause us untold nightmares, we appeal to the authorities to have It permanently closed”.

‎Speaking in the same vein, Evangelist Arowolo, one of the agents who introduced Solmudia to Igbala Community, disclosed that the  “counter-protest” was necessitated in lieu of an earlier protest embarked upon by a section of Igbala residents, claiming that they were not given any money.

‎According to Evangelist Arowolo, “As one of the agents that brought Solmudia to acquire the property, I can tell you for free that the company’s management directed us to dialogue with all property owners in the community, of which those whose properties fell into the delineated areas of interest gave outright desire to part with their respective property in exchange for money. This now-contentious road was part of the discussion, which formed the onus of our agreement.

‎”We made all payments and also met their demands in form of cooperate social responsibility. Alli-Isiba residents requested for transformer; they were given a 500KVA, while Igbala demanded for N25m – that was outside of the monies paid for their individual properties. All these conditions were met. Also, given the series of attacks by hoodlums who accessed the community through the road, the residents gladly keyed into the plan to close it. The turn of events concerning the road is shocking”, Evangelist Arowolo stated.

‎Various documents suggesting that Solmudia followed all due processes in its dealings with the concerned communities were made available to journalists during the peaceful protest.

‎These included correspondence with the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, which gave approval for the closure of the road; a letter from the Ogun State Ministry of Environment; sworn affidavit by residents of Igbala Phase 1 to the effect that they would cease from disturbing the company, having met their demands, which included monetary compensation.

‎The approval notice for the closure of the road, dated February 19, 2024, titled: “Approval for the Closure of Existing Road, Akinyemi Igbala, Sango-ota”, was signed, on behalf of the Executive Chairman, by the Council’s Director- General, Services and Administration,

‎Prince O.S. Dada, which also advised the company to “liaise with and carry along the Community Development Association, landowners, the Baale, and other relevant stakeholders for peaceful coexistence and mutual relationship.”

‎In its approval for the construction of drainage works linking the road closure, the State Ministry of Environment, through its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olugbenga Sam Oyeleye, in a letter dated August 22, 2024, acknowledged a site assessment visit and required the company to pay a total of ₦190,798 in assessment and administrative fees for a drainage permit.

‎Evidence of how the N25m was given to Igbala Community, and how they shared it, could be seen in pictorials, as N20m was paid into an account, while the balance of N5m was paid in cash to the executive officers of Igbala Phase 1 CDA.

‎In response to the ongoing controversy, the Alli-Isiba Community Development Association, in a letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, dated July 23, 2025, refuted claims made by the new executive members of Igbala Community.

‎They described those claims as “misleading statements and misrepresentations” regarding the road closure.

‎The association clarified that the decision to close the road was a collective agreement reached by representatives of Alli-Isiba, Igbala, Victory Estate, and Peace Estate communities.

‎The closure, they said, was a proactive response to repeated criminal incidents on the road, including theft, rape, and armed robbery, with the goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and road users.

‎They emphasised that Solmudia Industries acted with full transparency, secured all necessary approvals, and obtained the consent of all affected communities, including the former leadership of Igbala Community.

‎In a surprising turn, the association noted that the current Chairman of Igbala Phase 1, Mr. James Garuba, who is now opposing the closure, was among the initial advocates for it and had received appropriate settlements from Solmudia.

‎Further corroborating Solmudia’s claims is a sworn affidavit filed at the Magistrate Court, Ota, dated October 9, 2024, signed by both parties; Igbala Phase 1 Community Development Association and Solmudia Industries Limited.

‎The affidavit revealed that: Solmudia agreed to monetarily compensate the community with ₦20,000,000 for any inconveniences caused.

‎The community endorsed the permanent closure of the road and agreed to non-interference in the company’s operations.

‎Both parties agreed to resolve future disputes amicably in the interest of peace and justice.

‎Solmudia committed to offering job opportunities to qualified youths from the community once full operations commence.

‎Both parties expressed gratitude to His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege, the Olota of Ota, for his role in brokering peace.

‎The oath, which formalised the peace agreement, was signed by Elder James Obaro, Community Leader, and Mr. Bello Akeem, Secretary of Igbala Phase 1 Community Development Association.

‎Solmudia Industries maintained that its actions were in compliance with due process, and done in the best interest of the community and its business operations.

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