The Oyo State Executive Council on Tuesday approved the sum of N7,763,360,000 for the procurement of two aircraft to boost security in the state.

The two light aircraft, DA 42 MNG model, according to the government, are Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, with sophisticated surveillance gadgets capable of identifying targets from high and low altitudes.

This is as the government also approved the sum of N83,037,000,000 for 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.

In the same vein, the government approved the asphaltic improvement of the Secretariat road, Trans amusement UI – Sango road and the Obafemi Awolowo stadium road at N2,327,072,134.68.

The approvals were given during the State Executive Council meeting, which would be held on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the decisions were reached after exhaustive deliberations by members of the Council.

Speaking, the Commissioner said security in Oyo State will be beefed up with the immediate procurement of the two aircraft to curb the menace of illegal miners, kidnappers and other forms of security threats, particularly in the vast interland of Oyo State.

He said the aircraft will effectively back up Amotekun and other security forces in the State to prevent and destroy bandits in their hideouts.

He added 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.

Oyelade said, “The Council noted that though Oyo state enjoys relative peace compared to other states in the federation, the government will not be complacent because there are still pockets of kidnappings and banditry going on in parts of the State.

“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 the aircraft instead of helicopters was because they are less expensive to maintain, the spare parts are accessible and that the Nigerian 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 is bigger than 10 countries in Africa with a landmass of 28,454 square kilometres.

“The two aircraft will cost N7,763,360,000 and will effectively back up Amotekun and other security forces in the State to prevent and destroy bandits in their hideouts”, he added.

Prince Dotun Oyelade said that, of all the Southwest Security Networks, Amotekun in Oyo State has the highest number of staff, 2,500 of them, the highest number of vehicles, 181, and the highest number of motorcycles, 450.

He further said that Amotekun staff are the highest paid in the Southwest, with the least paid N116,000 salary per month.

“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 N83,037,000,000.

“The Council assured that 72km of the Circular road would be completed by the time this 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 N2,327, 072,134.68 while the reconstruction of Mobil – Oluyole Industrial Estate road network will be completed with N6,801,000,000.

“The Council approved the commencement of direct intervention in operations and maintenance of the Light-up Oyo Solar Project with N595,000,000 while N190,000,000 will be paid monthly for the operations and maintenance of the project as it stands”, Oyelade noted. (The Nation)