The Oyo State Government has said the two surveillance aircraft procured to strengthen security operations across the state will arrive before the end of July after 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 following the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday.
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Oyelade said the state had hoped to take delivery of the aircraft earlier, but explained that the assembly of their components by the Chinese manufacturers took longer than anticipated.
He recalled that the government had earlier announced the arrival of the aircraft at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Ikeja, Lagos State, where they were undergoing assembly before becoming operational.
According to him, Governor Seyi Makinde told the council that he had wished the aircraft were operational during the rescue operation following the recent school abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, but said the government relied on the professional and technical advice of the manufacturers before deploying them.
“The two aircraft were procured at the cost of ₦7,763,360,000.
“The aircraft are DA 42 MNG Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and will cover the borders of Oyo with Kwara and Republic of Benin,” Oyelade said.
The commissioner said the Executive Council also approved an interest-free intervention loan of ₦3bn for an indigenous cassava processing factory in Ado-Awaye to boost production, create jobs and benefit more than 25,000 farmers.
“Still in Oke-Ogun, the Council approved a financial intervention towards the commissioning and commencement of commercial operations of Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited.
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“The project represents one of the strategic industrialisation initiatives of the state government, aimed at promoting agro-industrial development, enhancing value addition to agricultural produce, creating employment opportunities, and increasing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said.
The Council recalled that the state government had previously approved and released the sum of ₦850,000,000 as an equity investment towards the revitalisation and completion of the sugar processing factory located in Iseyin.
Oyelade added, “As a result of effective management by the Investors and the government’s commitment to this objective, the Council approved the sum of ₦2,461,975,000 as an additional government equity investment in Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited.”
He added that the Council also approved the construction of the 4-kilometre Idi-Igba/Akinmorin Road in Ilora at a cost of ₦2,900,715,000, saying that the Council based its approval on the socio-economic rejuvenation expected to result from the construction of the road.
“The Council also approved an additional ₦26,768,370,000 for the upgrade of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport.
The approval covers additional works and the revised Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation, including the construction of the 140-metre strip, runway safety area, blast pad, extra pipe covers, and other ancillary works,” he stated.
Oyelade said the council also approved the implementation of a healthcare initiative to be funded through a €55m French loan backed by the Federal Government.
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He said the project would 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 the state.
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The commissioner added that the council approved a take-off grant of ₦200m for Shooting Stars Sports Club to support the Ibadan-based club’s campaign in continental competitions.
Punch