Surveillance Aircraft Arrive End of July as Governor Makinde Approves Additional #26 Billion for Ibadan Airport Upgrade
The Oyo State Government has announced that the two Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft procured to strengthen security operations across the state will arrive before the end of July, following delays in their assembly by the Chinese manufacturers.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement issued after the State Executive Council meeting held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan.
He explained that the government had expected to receive the aircraft much earlier but the assembly of their components by the manufacturers took longer than anticipated.
He disclosed that the two DA42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft were procured at a cost of ₦7.76 billion and would primarily monitor Oyo State’s borders with Kwara State and the Republic of Benin to strengthen security and combat criminal activities.
In a major infrastructure decision, the Executive Council approved an additional ₦26.77 billion for the ongoing upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan.
The approval covers revised engineering costs, including the construction of a 140-metre runway strip, runway safety area, blast pad, additional pipe covers and other ancillary works required to complete the airport’s transformation.