Oyo state's monitoring plane expected to land by end of month, says Commissioner

The Oyo State Government has confirmed that two surveillance aircraft, intended to bolster security operations statewide, are slated to arrive before July's end, following delays stemming from the manufacturing and assembly process in China.

n

This update was shared by Commissioner for Information Prince Dotun Oyelade in a statement issued on Thursday, subsequent to the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.

n

Oyelade explained that the state had initially anticipated receiving the aircraft earlier, but the assembly of their components by Chinese manufacturers took longer than initially expected.

n

He recalled that the government had previously announced the arrival of the aircraft at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Ikeja, Lagos State, where they were undergoing assembly prior to becoming operational.

n

According to Oyelade, Governor Seyi Makinde expressed his desire for the aircraft to have been operational during the recent school abduction rescue operation in Oriire Local Government Area, but noted that the government relied on the manufacturers' professional and technical advice before deploying them.

n

The two aircraft, procured at a cost of ₦7,763,360,000, are DA 42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft, designed to cover Oyo's borders with Kwara and the Republic of Benin.

n

The Executive Council also approved an interest-free intervention loan of ₦3bn for an indigenous cassava processing factory in Ado-Awaye, aimed at boosting production, creating jobs, and benefiting over 25,000 farmers.

n

In Oke-Ogun, the Council approved a financial intervention for the commissioning and commencement of commercial operations of Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited, a project aimed at promoting agro-industrial development and creating employment opportunities.

n

The state government had previously approved and released ₦850,000,000 as an equity investment towards the revitalisation and completion of the sugar processing factory in Iseyin.

n

Oyelade stated that the Council approved an additional ₦2,461,975,000 as a government equity investment in Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited, citing effective management by investors and the government's commitment to the project.

n

The Council also approved the construction of the 4-kilometre Idi-Igba/Akinmorin Road in Ilora at a cost of ₦2,900,715,000, based on the expected socio-economic benefits of the road's construction.

n

An additional ₦26,768,370,000 was approved for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, covering extra works, including the construction of a 140-metre strip, runway safety area, and other ancillary works.

n

The council approved the implementation of a healthcare initiative, funded through a €55m French loan backed by the Federal Government, which will provide modular hospitals, medical facilities, and other healthcare infrastructure across the state.

n

The project will include a cardiac centre, emergency and maternity centres, intensive care units, operating theatres, 39 ambulances, 10 dental centres, and 200 primary healthcare centres.

n

The council also approved a take-off grant of ₦200m for Shooting Stars Sports Club to support the Ibadan-based club's campaign in continental competitions.