The Oyo State Government has announced that the two intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft procured to strengthen security across the state will arrive before the end of July, following delays in their assembly by the manufacturers.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement issued after the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.
According to Oyelade, the state had hoped to receive the aircraft earlier, but the Chinese manufacturers required more time to complete the assembly of the components.
He recalled that shortly after the abduction incident in Oriire Local Government Area about two months ago, the government announced that the aircraft had arrived at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Ikeja, Lagos, where the assembly process commenced.
Quoting Governor Seyi Makinde, Oyelade said the governor would have preferred to deploy the aircraft during the rescue operation in Oriire, but explained that their operational readiness depended on the technical assessment and approval of the manufacturers.
“The governor said he would have loved the two surveillance aircraft to participate in the rescue operation during the Oriire incident, but the final decision to make them operational was not in the hands of the state government as it had to rely on the professional and technical advice of the Chinese manufacturers,” Oyelade said.
He added that the Executive Council agreed that prioritising safety over public pressure was the appropriate decision.
The commissioner said the DA 42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft were acquired for ₦7.76 billion and would be deployed to monitor Oyo State’s borders with Kwara State and the Republic of Benin.
Beyond security, the council approved several investments aimed at boosting agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and sports development.
Among the approvals is a ₦3 billion interest-free strategic intervention loan for a cassava processing factory in Ado-Awaye. Oyelade said the facility would support more than 25,000 farmers, create jobs and strengthen Oyo State’s position as a major cassava-producing state.
The council also approved an additional ₦2.46 billion equity investment in Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited in Iseyin to facilitate the commencement of commercial operations.
The investment follows an earlier government contribution of ₦850 million towards reviving the sugar processing factory.
According to Oyelade, the decision reflects the government’s commitment to promoting agro-industrial development, increasing value addition to agricultural produce, creating employment opportunities and expanding the state’s internally generated revenue.
In the infrastructure sector, the council approved ₦2.9 billion for the construction of the four-kilometre Idi-Igba–Akinmorin Road in Ilora, citing its expected socio-economic benefits.
It also approved an additional ₦26.77 billion for ongoing upgrade works at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport. The funds will cover revised engineering works, including a 140-metre runway strip, runway safety area, blast pad, extra pipe covers and other supporting infrastructure.
The Executive Council further approved a healthcare initiative to be financed through a €55 million French loan guaranteed by the Federal Government.
The project will fund the construction and equipping of hospitals, including a cardiac centre, emergency and maternity centres, operating theatres and intensive care units. It also includes the provision of 39 ambulances, 10 dental centres and upgrades to 200 primary healthcare centres, alongside emergency and maternity facilities in hospitals across Igboora, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Moniya, Kishi, Iseyin, Okeho and Eruwa.
In the sports sector, the council approved an initial take-off grant of ₦200 million for Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to support the club’s campaign for continental success after nearly three decades without a major continental achievement.
