The Oyo State Government has approved N63.4 billion for the comprehensive renovation and upgrade of its Government House structures in Ibadan.
The approval was granted at the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, with details disclosed on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Oyelade explained that the decision was based on assessments describing the current condition and ambience of the facility as “embarrassing and unbefitting” for the seat of government.
He added that for the past six years, Governor Seyi Makinde and his deputy, Bayo Lawal, have resided in their private homes rather than the official quarters due to their deteriorated state.
“The Oyo State Government has approved N63.4 billion for the overhauling of the Government House structures.
“The state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement in Ibadan on Wednesday. According to Oyelade, the State Executive Council gave the approval during its weekly meeting on Tuesday in Ibadan.
“He described the current state and ambience of the government house as “an embarrassment and unbefitting facility”. He observed that for the past six years, Gov. Seyi Makinde and his deputy, Bayo Lawal had been living in their personal houses instead of their official residences at the government house,” the NAN report read in part.
The commissioner added that the planned renovation includes the completion of a banquet hall, which is expected to be ready ahead of the state’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2026.
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In addition to the Government House renovation, the State Executive Council approved N14.2 billion for the installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Ladoke Akintola Airport in Alakia.
According to the commissioner, the initiative supports the state’s broader plan to transform the airport into a fully operational international aviation facility capable of handling increased passenger and cargo traffic.
- The ILS technology is critical for ensuring safe and accurate aircraft landings, especially during poor weather conditions or low visibility.
- Oyelade explained that the previous system—originally installed by the Federal Government—was damaged beyond repair, prompting the state to take up the responsibility of procuring and installing a new one, with a projected six-month completion timeline.
He added that the broader airport upgrade project was officially launched on September 18, 2024, and that flight operations were temporarily suspended in March 2025 to accelerate the pace of construction work.
Oyelade, are the infrastructures in Oyo State befitting to the human sensibility?
Is our healthcare befitting for Seyi Makinde?
Are the schools buildings across the state befitting Seyi’s children or for his goats?
Is the lack of the pipe borne water and the horrible roads befitting humanity?
Before Makinde Spends Borrowed Money on Purchasing Aircraft
Lekan Adewuyi
A few days ago, Governor Seyi Makinde tried unconvincingly to justify the spending of N63.4 billion on the renovation of the Oyo governor’s lodge, a project that could not have cost more than a few billion naira. The governor mentioned another wasteful and self-serving spending that went under the radar in the heat of the controversy surrounding the governor’s lodge renovation. And that was the intention of his government to purchase two aircraft for the purpose of surveillance to tackle insecurity. For sure, insecurity is an issue that requires urgent solution but the idea of purchasing aircraft for that purpose is not only unnecessary but another of the rounds of profligacy and self-serving that has been the hallmark of the Makinde administration. Unless the aircraft are meant for a different purpose such as the impending presidential campaign by the governor and his traveling.
There are obvious reasons why drones offer a better surveillance strategy than aircraft for curbing insecurity in Oyo State if the proper homework is done and the whole issue is about altruistic goals rather than personal aggrandizement and comfort. Deploying drones for surveillance presents a more efficient, cost-effective, and adaptable strategy compared to purchasing conventional aircraft. While both tools serve the purpose of aerial monitoring, drones offer significant advantages that align better with the geographical, economic, and operational realities of Oyo State.
First, drones are far more cost-effective and cheaper than aircraft. Purchasing and maintaining fixed-wing aircraft involves substantial capital investment, maintenance costs, and a trained crew. In contrast, drones are relatively inexpensive, require less fuel or battery power, and can be operated by a smaller, locally trained workforce. This makes drones an accessible option for sustained surveillance, especially in resource-constrained environments like Oyo State.
Second, drones provide greater flexibility and precision in monitoring both urban and rural areas. They can fly at lower altitudes, hover in place, and maneuver through narrow or hard-to-reach areas such as forested terrain or informal settlements. This makes them ideal for tracking movements, identifying criminal hideouts, monitoring herder-farmer conflicts, and even patrolling border communities where insecurity often begins.
Third, drones reduce risks to human life. Unlike manned aircraft, drones can be deployed in dangerous situations without putting pilots at risk. This is particularly important when dealing with armed criminal groups or in areas experiencing the presence of bandits and terrorists. Drones equipped with infrared cameras and night vision can also operate in low-light conditions, providing 24/7 surveillance capability that is difficult and expensive to achieve with aircraft.
Finally, drone surveillance enhances rapid response. Real-time data from drone feeds can be transmitted to security agencies for immediate action. Integration with artificial intelligence can further improve target recognition and predictive policing.
In conclusion, for a state like Oyo grappling with diverse security challenges, drones offer a smarter, safer, and more sustainable surveillance solution than traditional aircraft. Unless the aircraft are meant for the use of the governor rather than for the purpose of security of the state as it is being whispered on government corridors. Or it’s probably another conduit pipe.
Adewuyi, an economist, writes from Eruwa, Oyo State.