Oyo State has taken delivery of two surveillance aircraft to boost intelligence gathering and response times, with Governor Seyi Makinde saying the move is part of a long-planned security upgrade.
The aircraft landed on Tuesday at the upgraded tarmac of Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan. Air Force pilots flew them in, and Makinde said operations will begin immediately through a partnership with the Nigerian Air Force under a signed Memorandum of Understanding.
According to the governor, the purchase was driven by the sheer size of Oyo State and the need to complement ground patrols with aerial monitoring, not by the recent abduction of pupils and teachers at Ahoro Community Grammar School in Oriire LGA.
“When we decided to buy these aircraft, it was because of our landmass. We knew we had to complement the boots on the ground,” Makinde told journalists. He added that while some had asked “where are the aircraft,” the administration stayed focused on a long-term solution.
He described security as the foundation for development, noting that economic and social progress is difficult when lives and property are under threat. Makinde also expressed relief that the Oriire schoolchildren and teachers have been rescued, and said the state can now push ahead with its broader development plans.
The new aircraft are expected to support Amotekun and other security agencies by providing aerial reconnaissance over remote communities, border areas and other vulnerable spots. The goal, the governor said, is faster intelligence gathering and quicker response to criminal activity.
“My message to the people of Oyo State is that their government will always be there to serve them,” Makinde said, promising continued investment to keep the state safe for residents and investors.
