Oyo State Executive Council has approved ₦7.7 billion for purchasing two aircraft to tackle insecurity and banditry.
Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration made the decision during the council’s weekly meeting held Tuesday in Ibadan, the capital.
Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, announced the approval in a public statement Wednesday morning.
Oyo approves aircraft to fight insecurity, focusing on strategic surveillance to reduce kidnapping and bandit activity statewide.
The aircraft model approved is DA 42 MNG, known for efficient Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
According to Oyelade, the DA 42 aircraft can identify targets from both high and low altitude with precision.
He explained the preference for aircraft over helicopters due to lower maintenance costs and easier access to spare parts.
Oyo approves aircraft to fight insecurity with support from Nigerian Air Force, which already operates similar aviation models.
The government expects inter-agency synergy to enhance security operations across all volatile regions in the state.
Despite relative peace, Oyelade admitted that incidents of kidnapping and criminal infiltration still persist in rural corridors.
This aircraft approval follows last month’s controversial ₦63.4 billion Government House renovation budget allocation.
Critics questioned that expense amid economic strain, but Makinde blamed naira-dollar rate fluctuations for the high cost.
However, analysts noted the foreign exchange has remained relatively stable around ₦1,500 to $1 since May.
Oyo approves aircraft to fight insecurity, reaffirming its commitment to secure lives and property across the 33 local councils.
