The Oyo State government has announced that the two Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft it procured to strengthen security operations will arrive in the state before the end of July, following delays in their assembly by the Chinese manufacturers.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, after the Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, he said it was the desire of the state government to take delivery of the two aircraft much earlier, but the assembly of the components by the Chinese manufacturers took longer than originally anticipated.
He recalled that shortly after the Oriire abduction incident two months ago, the government had announced that the aircraft had arrived at the Nigerian Air Force Hangar in Ikeja, Lagos, where assembly commenced.
The Commissioner said that while the Governor was briefing the Council, he said that he would have loved the two surveillance aircraft to participate in the rescue operation during the Oriire incident, but the final decision to make the two aircraft operational was not in his hands, as the state government had to depend on the professional and technical advice of the Chinese manufacturers.
The Council noted that it was better to be on the side of caution rather than succumb to uninformed public pressure.
Prince Oyelade said the two aircraft were procured at the cost of ₦7,763,360,000 (seven billion, seven hundred and sixty-three million, three hundred and sixty thousand naira). The aircraft are DA 42 MNG intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and will cover the borders of Oyo with Kwara and the Republic of Benin.
The Council also approved the implementation of a strategic intervention loan for an indigenous cassava factory at Ado-Awaye.
The local factory, which produces cassava flour and other derivatives, will benefit over 25,000 farmers, provide employment, and strengthen Oyo State’s position as a leading cassava-producing state.
The total cost of the government’s intervention is an interest-free loan of ₦3 billion (three billion naira).
Still in Oke-Ogun, the council approved a financial intervention towards the commissioning and commencement of commercial operations of Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited.
The project represents one of the strategic industrialization initiatives of the state government aimed at promoting agro-industrial development, enhancing value addition to agricultural produce, creating employment opportunities, and increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Council recalled that the state government had previously approved and released the sum of ₦850,000,000 (eight hundred and fifty million naira) as an equity investment towards the revitalization and completion of the sugar processing factory located in Iseyin.
As a result of effective management by the investors and the government’s commitment to this objective, the Council approved the sum of ₦2,461,975,000 (two billion, four hundred and sixty-one million, nine hundred and seventy-five thousand naira) as an additional government equity investment in Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited.
The council also approved the construction of the 4-kilometer Idi-Igba/Akinmorin Road in Ilora at a cost of ₦2,900,715,000 (two billion, nine hundred million, seven hundred fifteen thousand naira). The Council based its approval on the socio-economic rejuvenation expected to result from the construction of the road.
The Council also approved an additional ₦26,768,370,000 (twenty-six billion, seven hundred sixty-eight million, three hundred seventy thousand naira) for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport. The approval covers additional works and the revised Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME), including the construction of the 140-meter strip, runway safety area, blast pad, extra pipe covers, and other ancillary works.
The council also approved the Healthcare Initiative Project, to be financed through a €55 million (fifty-five million euros) French loan backed by the federal government. The loan will fund the modular construction and equipping of hospitals, including a Cardiac Center, Emergency and Maternity Centers, Operating Theaters, and Intensive Care Units (ICUs). It will also provide 39 ambulances, 10 dental centers, and 200 primary healthcare centers, as well as emergency and maternity facilities at hospitals in Igboora, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Moniya, Kishi, Iseyin, Okeho, and Eruwa.
The council approved an initial takeoff grant of ₦200,000,000 (two hundred million naira) to support Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in its pursuit of continental honors, which had been evasive for 27 years.
Packaged by Adekunle Adegboyega
