Security in Oyo State will be beefed up with the immediate procurement of two aircraft to curb the menace of illegal miners, kidnappers and other forms of security threats, particularly in the vast inter land.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said in a release after the Executive Council meeting on Tuesday , July 8, 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 the Pacesetter State enjoys relative peace compared to others in the federation, the Makinde administration would not be complacent because there are still pockets of kidnappings and banditry going on in some parts.
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 would cost ₦7,763,360 billion, and would effectively back up Amotekun and other security forces in the state to prevent bandits’ operations and destroy those 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 numbering 2,500, in addition to the highest number of vehicles, numbering 181, and the highest number of motorcycles which totals 450.
He further said that Amotekun staff are the highest paid in the Southwest with the least paid ₦116,000.
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 billion.
The Council assured that 72km of the Circular road would be completed by the time the 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 ₦2,327,072,134.68 billion, while the reconstruction of Mobil-Oluyole Industrial Estate road network would be completed with ₦6.801 billion.
The Council approved the commencement of direct intervention in operations and maintenance of the Light-up Oyo Solar Project with ₦595 million, while ₦190 million would be paid monthly for the operations and maintenance of the project as it stands.
