The Seyi Makinde led administration has procured two aircrafts to support its fight against illegal miners, kidnappers and other forms of security threats in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said in a release after the Executive Council meeting yesterday that the procurement was approved in a renewed determination by the Government to secure the state further from the influx of bandits and the perpetration of their enterprise.
According to the Commissioner, the Council noted that though Oyo State enjoys relative peace compared to other States in the federation, the Government will not be complacent because there are still pockets of kidnappings and banditry going on in parts of the State.
The two light aircraft, DA 42 MNG model, are Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, with sophisticated surveillance gadgets capable of identifying targets from high and low altitudes.
The Commissioner said the preference for these aircraft instead of helicopters is because they are less expensive to maintain, the spare parts are accessible and also as the Nigeria Air Force possesses a number of the model, which gives room for synergy.
Oyo State, according to him, has the largest land mass in the Southern part of Nigeria and bigger than 10 countries in Africa with a landmass of 28,454 square kilometres.
The two aircraft already procured cost ₦7,763,360,000 (Seven billion, seven hundred and sixty three million, three hundred and sixty thousand naira) and will effectively back up Amotekun and other security forces in the State to prevent and destroy bandits in their hideouts.
Prince Dotun Oyelade said that of all the South West Security Networks, Amotekun in Oyo State has the highest number of staff, 2,500 of them, the highest number of vehicles, 181, and the highest number of motorcycles, 450.
He further said that Amotekun staff are the highest paid in the Southwest with the least paid ₦116,000 (One hundred and sixteen thousand naira) salary per month.
The Council also approved the construction of bridges, interchanges and the clearance of the Northeast and Southwest segment of the 110km Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project, particularly from the Molarere, Odo-oba, Abiola Ajimobi Technical University axis, all at ₦83,037,000,000 (Eight three billion, thirty seven million naira)
The Council assured that 72km of the Circular road would be completed by the time this administration ends its tenure in 2027.
The Council also approved asphaltic improvement of the Secretariat road, Trans amusement UI – Sango road and the Obafemi Awolowo stadium road at ₦36,346,000,000 (Thirty six billion , three hundred and forty six million naira) while the reconstruction of Mobil – Oluyole Industrial Estate road network will be completed with ₦6,801,000,000 (Six billion, eight hundred and one million naira).
The Council approved the commencement of direct intervention in operations and maintenance of the Light-up Oyo Solar Project with ₦595,000,000 (Five hundred and ninety five million naira) while ₦190,000,000 (One hundred and ninety million naira) will be paid monthly for the operations and maintenance of the project as it stands.
