Oyo Govt Defends Purchase Of 2 Aircraft For N7.7bn

Amid criticisms of the Oyo State government’s purchase of two aircraft at a the cost of N7.7 billion, the commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, has defended the procurement.

He said they were needed to curb insecurity in the state.

The commissioner disclosed that security would be beefed up with the immediate procurement of aircraft to check the menace of illegal miners, kidnappers and other forms of security threats, particularly in the vast interland.

In a statement after yesterday’s executive council meeting, Oyelade said the procurement was approved in line with the government’s renewed determination to secure the state from the influx of bandits and perpetuate their enterprise.

According to him, the council noted that though Oyo State enjoys relative peace compared to other states in the federation, the government would not be complacent because there were 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

He said the preference for aircraft instead of helicopters was because aircraft are less expensive to maintain, the spare parts are accessible, and the Nigerian Air Force possesses several models, which allows for synergy.

He added that the state had the largest land mass in southern Nigeria, bigger than 10 African countries, with 28,454 square kilometres.

“The two aircraft will cost ₦7,763,360,000  and will effectively back up Amotekun and other security forces in the State to prevent and destroy bandits in their hideouts”,  he said.

Oyelade said that of all the South West Security Networks, Amotekun in Oyo State had the highest number of staff, 2,500, vehicles, 181, and motorcycles, 450.

He said that Amotekun staff were the highest paid in the Southwest, with the lowest paid ₦116,000 (one hundred and sixteen thousand naira) monthly.

“The council also approved the construction of bridges, interchanges and the clearance of the northeast and southwest segments of the 110km Rashidi Ladoja Circular road project, particularly from the Molarere, Odo-oba, Abiola Ajimobi Technical University axis, all at ₦83,037,000,000”, he said.