PHOTOS: Oyo Receives ₦7.76bn Surveillance Aircraft To Boost Security

Oyo State has taken a significant step towards strengthening its security infrastructure with the arrival of two advanced surveillance aircraft acquired by the state government to enhance intelligence gathering and rapid response to security threats.

According to Ireporter Online, Governor Seyi Makinde officially received the two Diamond DA42 MNG surveillance aircraft on Tuesday at the upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, fulfilling a plan announced about a year ago to reinforce the state’s security architecture.

The aircraft, procured at an estimated cost of ₦7.76 billion, are designed for aerial surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance operations. They are expected to support security agencies in monitoring forests, remote communities and other difficult-to-access areas often exploited by criminal elements.

The acquisition is regarded as a major milestone in the state government’s ongoing efforts to improve security through technology-driven operations and faster emergency response capabilities.

Reports indicate that the arrival of the aircraft followed delays in their assembly, with the Makinde administration previously assuring residents that they would be delivered before the end of July.

State officials explained that the surveillance platforms would play a key role in boosting security along Oyo State’s borders with Kwara State and the Benin Republic, while also improving intelligence-led operations aimed at tackling criminal activities across the state.

The government expressed confidence that the new aircraft would significantly enhance the effectiveness of security agencies in safeguarding lives and property through improved aerial monitoring and coordinated response operations.