Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced that the two Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft purchased by the state to tackle insecurity will arrive before the end of July after delays in their assembly by Chinese manufacturers.
The development was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, after the State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday.
According to Oyelade, the two DA 42 MNG surveillance aircraft, procured at a cost of ₦7.763 billion, were initially expected to arrive earlier, but the manufacturers delayed delivery to ensure proper assembly and compliance with safety standards.
He recalled that following the abduction of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area, the aircraft had arrived at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Ikeja, Lagos, where assembly commenced.
Governor Makinde told the Executive Council that he had hoped the aircraft would have been deployed during the rescue operation for the abducted pupils but accepted the manufacturers’ technical advice to delay deployment until the aircraft were fully certified.
The surveillance aircraft are expected to strengthen security monitoring along Oyo State’s borders with Kwara State and the Republic of Benin.
Beyond security, the Executive Council approved several multi-billion-naira projects aimed at boosting agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure and industrial development.
Council approved an interest-free ₦3 billion loan for an indigenous cassava processing factory in Ado-Awaye, a project expected to benefit over 25,000 farmers, create jobs and boost cassava production in the state.
It also approved an additional ₦2.462 billion equity investment in Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited, Iseyin, to accelerate the completion of the sugar processing factory.
To improve infrastructure, the government approved ₦2.901 billion for the construction of the four-kilometre Idi-Igba/Akinmorin Road in Ilora.
The Executive Council further approved an additional ₦26.768 billion for engineering works at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, covering runway safety improvements, blast pads and other critical facilities.
In the health sector, Council approved the implementation of a €55 million French-backed healthcare project, guaranteed by the Federal Government, to build and equip modular hospitals, a cardiac centre, maternity and emergency facilities, intensive care units, operating theatres, 39 ambulances, 10 dental centres and 200 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state.
The project will benefit communities including Igboora, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Moniya, Kishi, Iseyin, Okeho and Eruwa.
Meanwhile, the Council also approved an initial ₦200 million take-off grant for Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to support the Ibadan-based club’s campaign for continental football success after a 27-year absence.
The approvals, according to the state government, are part of efforts to strengthen security, improve healthcare delivery, boost food production and accelerate infrastructure development across Oyo State.
