Oyo State’s security apparatus has received a major boost following the arrival of two long-awaited surveillance aircraft at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Governor Seyi Makinde was present at the airport to personally inspect the arrival of the aircraft, fulfilling a pledge made by his administration to bolster regional security.
The acquisition, originally announced on 8 July 2025, forms part of a broader strategy to combat rising security challenges, including kidnapping and banditry. The state government had recently reassured the public that the aircraft would arrive before the end of July, a deadline now met.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, the aircraft had previously landed in the country and were undergoing assembly at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Lagos, a detail confirmed by Governor Makinde on 18 July 2026.
In his statement, Oyelade highlighted that “the arrival of the aircraft marks another step in the state’s efforts to strengthen security operations through improved intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance.”
The dual platforms are set to enhance intelligence collection, aerial monitoring, and rapid emergency response capabilities across Oyo State and neighbouring territories. They will directly assist local operations, aiding formations such as the Amotekun Corps to track criminal activity and respond to threats more efficiently.