Oyo surveillance aircraft to arrive month-end, says government

By


The Oyo State Government has announced that the two surveillance aircraft procured to strengthen security operations across the state will arrive before the end of July, following delays caused by the manufacturing and assembly process in China.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday after the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.

According to Oyelade, the state had expected to receive the aircraft earlier, but the manufacturers in China required additional time to complete the assembly of their components.

He recalled that the government had previously announced the arrival of the aircraft at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Ikeja, Lagos State, where they were undergoing final assembly before becoming operational.

Oyelade said Governor Seyi Makinde informed the council that he had hoped the aircraft would have been operational during the rescue mission following the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oriire Local Government Area. However, the governor said the state relied on the professional and technical advice of the manufacturers before deploying them.

He stated that the two DA 42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft were procured at a cost of ₦7,763,360,000 and would be deployed to monitor Oyo State's borders with Kwara State and the Republic of Benin.

The commissioner also announced that the Executive Council approved an interest-free intervention loan of ₦3 billion for an indigenous cassava processing factory in Ado-Awaye to increase production, create jobs and benefit more than 25,000 farmers.

He added that the council approved financial intervention for the commissioning and commencement of commercial operations at Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited in Oke-Ogun as part of the state's industrialisation drive aimed at promoting agro-industrial development, boosting value addition, creating employment and increasing Internally Generated Revenue.

Oyelade recalled that the government had earlier invested ₦850 million as equity in the sugar processing factory in Iseyin and has now approved an additional equity investment of ₦2,461,975,000 to support the project.

The council also approved the construction of the 4-kilometre Idi-Igba/Akinmorin Road in Ilora at a cost of ₦2,900,715,000 to stimulate socio-economic development in the area.

In addition, the Executive Council approved an extra ₦26,768,370,000 for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport. The approval covers additional works, revised engineering measurements and the construction of a 140-metre strip, runway safety area, blast pad, extra pipe covers and other ancillary facilities.

The commissioner further disclosed that the council approved the implementation of a healthcare programme to be funded through a €55 million French loan backed by the Federal Government. The initiative will provide modular hospitals and medical facilities, including a cardiac centre, emergency and maternity centres, intensive care units, operating theatres, 39 ambulances, 10 dental centres and 200 primary healthcare centres across Oyo State.

Oyelade also said the council approved a take-off grant of ₦200 million for Shooting Stars Sports Club to support the Ibadan-based team's campaign in continental competitions.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kwara North Unites at Ilorin Rally, Backs Tinubu, Demands Governorship Shift

By
Image
 A large political rally in Ilorin on Tuesday saw renewed support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and strong calls for the governorship of Kwara State to be zoned to Kwara North in 2027. The rally, held at Metropolitan Square, Asa Dam, attracted party members, stakeholders and supporters from across the state, signalling rising political mobilisation ahead of the next election cycle. Speakers at the event stressed the need for equity, fairness and justice in the distribution of political power, urging the All Progressives Congress at both state and national levels to zone its governorship ticket to Kwara North. Representing traditional rulers from the district, the Emir of Lafiagi, Muhammed Kudu Kawu , said the demand reflects the long-standing aspiration of the people. He noted that Kwara North has remained largely excluded from the state’s top leadership despite its contributions to electoral victories and political stability. Kawu added that the district h...
Read more

FG Approves Major NYSC Reform, Introduces Civilian Leadership Structure

By
Image
The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive restructuring of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, marking the first major reform of the scheme since its establishment 53 years ago. The approval was granted at the federal executive council meeting held in Abuja on Monday as part of efforts to reposition the NYSC into a skills-focused and productivity-driven institution aligned with the Federal Government’s economic and youth development agenda. A major component of the reform is the introduction of a civilian-led operational structure for the scheme, while the military will continue to provide security support for corps members across the country. The council also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and other relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the implementation of the reforms. Announcing the development, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the initiative ...
Read more

NYSC Reform: FG Replaces Khaki Uniform With Adire Fabric

By
Image
The Federal Government has announced that the traditional khaki uniform of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, will be replaced with Adire fabric as part of ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the scheme and promoting local production. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying the initiative is designed to strengthen indigenous industries and ensure government spending supports Nigeria’s economy. According to the minister, the new NYSC uniform will be produced locally, noting that Adire is already manufactured in several parts of the country, including Ogun and Kwara states. “It’s Adire. So, Adire is being produced in Nigeria. We have them in Ogun, we have them in Kwara, we have textile industry. Let’s put our money back into the country,” Olawande said. He explained that the decision forms part of broader reforms intended to boost Nigeria’s textile industry, encourage l...
Read more