Oyo Welcomes Two Surveillance Aircraft to Boost State Security

The two surveillance aircraft acquired by the Oyo State Government have arrived in Ibadan, fulfilling the government’s earlier assurance that the aircraft would be delivered before the end of July.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner For Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, he said 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 Commissioner recalled that the Oyo State Government announced the purchase of the two surveillance aircraft on July 8, 2025, as part of measures aimed at enhancing the capacity of security agencies to tackle emerging security challenges across the state.

He added that Governor Seyi Makinde had, on July 18, 2026, confirmed that the aircraft arrived in Nigeria and were undergoing reassembly at the Nigerian Air Force’s hangar in Lagos.

The commissioner said the state government had, about a week earlier, assured residents that the aircraft would arrive in Oyo before the end of July, adding that the latest development fulfilled that commitment.

The aircraft are expected to support security agencies, including the Amotekun Corps and other relevant formations, in monitoring criminal activities and improving response efforts across the state.

He also noted that the Governor is on hand to receive the two aircraft at the airport.

Makinde Clears More Pension Backlog as Oyo Begins ₦3 Billion Gratuity Payment to Over 1,000 LG Retirees

The Oyo State Government has commenced the disbursement of ₦3 billion in gratuity and death benefits to more than 1,000 retired local government workers and primary school teachers, reaffirming Governor Seyi Makinde's commitment to prioritising the welfare of pensioners across the state.

At the official flag-off ceremony held at the Local Government Staff Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, stated that the payment is another major step in clearing the backlog of retirement benefits inherited from previous administrations.

According to him, the ₦3 billion released by Governor Makinde will benefit retirees from all geopolitical zones of Oyo State, with the administration determined to ensure that no eligible retiree is left unpaid before the end of the governor's tenure.

Hon. Ige also highlighted the governor's approval of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as a landmark reform aimed at strengthening pension administration in the state. He explained that the existing Defined Benefits Scheme will operate alongside the CPS during the transition period to protect both serving workers and retirees.

The Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, Mr. Olufemi Akinwale, applauded Governor Makinde's people-centred leadership and urged beneficiaries to use their gratuities wisely while remaining alert to fraudsters.

Also speaking at the event, the Majority Leader of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, praised the administration's consistent investment in workers' welfare and encouraged residents to sustain their support for the government's developmental agenda.

The ceremony featured the symbolic presentation of cheques to beneficiaries, many of whom expressed appreciation to Governor Makinde for fulfilling his promise to improve the lives of retirees. They described the payment as timely relief and commended the administration for restoring confidence in the state's pension system.

With this latest intervention, the Makinde administration continues to demonstrate its resolve to honour the service of retired public workers while building a more sustainable and efficient pension system for future generations.

Oyo LG Poll: OYSIEC Extends Party Primaries Deadline To August 5 Advertisement

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to conduct their chairmanship and councillorship primary elections ahead of the state’s forthcoming local government elections to Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

OYSIEC Chairman, Dr. Afees Adeniyi, announced the extension in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Ibadan.

According to the statement, the decision followed a request by the Oyo State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which sought additional time to enable political parties complete the administrative and statutory processes required for the successful conduct of their primary elections.

The commission noted that IPAC, in a letter signed by its Secretary, Hon. Dairo Olayinka, requested a one-week extension, stressing that the additional time would allow participating political parties to properly organise their structures and documentation, thereby promoting a more credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral process.

Dr. Adeniyi explained that OYSIEC approved a nine-day extension after considering the request, saying the decision was aimed at accommodating all registered political parties in the state that have indicated interest in participating in the local government elections scheduled for December 29, 2026.

He stated that the initial deadline for the conduct of party primaries was Monday, July 27, 2026, while the new timeline will run from Tuesday, July 28, 2026, to Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

The OYSIEC chairman clarified that all other dates and activities contained in the commission’s revised election timetable and guidelines remain unchanged.

He urged all affected political parties to take advantage of the extension by conducting their primary elections within the stipulated period and forwarding the names of their successful candidates to the commission as required.

Dr. Adeniyi also commended political parties for their continued cooperation with the commission and appealed to them to strictly adhere to the electoral guidelines during the conduct of their primaries.

“The commission received a letter from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) requesting an extension of the date scheduled for the conduct of the local government chairmanship and councillorship primary elections by political parties in Oyo State.

“The council requested a one-week extension. The commission deliberated on the request and graciously approved a nine-day extension to ensure that all interested political parties are adequately accommodated in the electoral process,” the statement read.

From Promise to Reality: Makinde Changes Oluwadaisi Cheshire's Life with New Home

I Never Thought I Would Become a Landlord, Let Alone Own a Big House Like This”, Says Recipient

There was excitement in Moniya on Monday as Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, fulfilled his promise by handing over the key to a new house and a wheelchair to Mr. Babatunde Oluwadaisi Isiah Chesire, a person with disability.

The symbolic presentation was done at the new house located behind King’s College, Moniya by the Director General of Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, OYPWD, Barr. Ayodele Adekanmbi, alongside the Executive Assistant on Disability Matters, Hon. Olufemi Timothy, who signed as witness.

Governor Makinde had in January publicly promised to provide shelter for Mr Ikudaisi Shesire after he solicited for help during the “Oyo at 50” programme for persons with disabilities at Omololu park, Airport Junction.

Oluwadaisi Chesire, who has been on a wheelchair for several years, said he was chased out of his former residence in Moniya with his wife and children.

While commending the gesture, Barr. Adekanmbi, who supported the family with cash, described the presentation as the fulfillment of a promise and the restoration of a life.

He said: “Today is not simply the presentation of a house and a wheelchair; it is the fulfilment of a promise and the proof that compassionate governance finds its highest expression in restoring dignity where life once knew limitation.

“Governor Seyi Makinde's noble gesture reminds us that the greatness of leadership is measured not by the height of its promises, but by the depth of its fulfilment. A house offers security, a wheelchair restores mobility, but together they proclaim that every life deserves hope, inclusion, and purpose.

“This enduring legacy of inclusive governance stands as a testament that in Oyo State, no citizen is invisible and no disability diminishes human worth.”

Barr. Adekanmbi however urged Mr Oluwadaisi Chesire to preserve the house as a legacy and warned against selling it. 

He added that the agency, under the leadership of Governor Makinde, would continue to support persons with disabilities in the state.

In his own brief remarks, Hon. Olufemi Timothy also described the gesture as a great opportunity and appreciated the governor for his consistent support.

This is not the first time he has been doing this for us. Many people have benefited from this government through job opportunities, cars, lands, and empowerment”.

“The Governor has also made us relevant in his government. We are praying that he will become President of the country to further advance the benefits being enjoyed by persons with disabilities under his leadership,” he said. 

An emotional Oluwadaisi Chesire, in tears of joy, prayed for Governor Makinde, saying “I never thought I would become a landlord, let alone own a big house like this”.

Narrating his ordeal of being abandoned by his parents in Ogbomoso since childhood, Mr Oluwadaisi Chesire said Makinde remains the only Oyo governor who has shown genuine love to persons with disabilities.

Makinde's Infrastructure Revolution Set to Position Oyo as a Global Investment Hub — Economic Expert

Economic expert Olatunji Smith Balogun has praised Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as a bold infrastructure revolution that is strategically positioning Oyo State as one of Nigeria's most attractive destinations for foreign investment.

According to Balogun, the ongoing construction of the Ibadan Circular Road and the transformation of the Ibadan Airport into an international airport are not just developmental projects but long-term economic investments that will reshape the state's commercial landscape and open new opportunities for investors across the globe.

He explained that such visionary infrastructure projects would improve connectivity, boost trade, attract multinational businesses, create employment opportunities, and strengthen Oyo State's competitiveness in both national and international markets.

Balogun maintained that only a leader with foresight and a long-term vision would commit significant resources to projects that may not yield immediate political rewards but will benefit generations to come.

Drawing from history, the economist compared Governor Makinde's leadership approach to that of his late father, Dr. Ganiyu Kolawole Balogun (GKB), the pioneer chairman of the Ibadan Municipal Government (IMG) between 1976 and 1979.

He recalled that his father faced intense criticism after initiating major road construction projects across Labiran and Oke-Are, yet those roads remain vital transport routes decades later.

"When my late father started road construction across Labiran and Oke-Are, he was heavily criticised by people who could not see beyond the present. Today, those roads continue to serve thousands of residents daily. Governor Makinde is facing similar criticism because he is building for the future. History has shown that visionary leadership is often misunderstood before it is appreciated."

Balogun urged residents of Oyo State to support developmental initiatives that prioritise sustainable economic growth over short-term political interests, stressing that the governor's infrastructure agenda has the potential to transform Oyo into a leading investment destination in West Africa.

He concluded that history will ultimately judge leaders by the lasting impact of their projects, noting that Governor Makinde's legacy is steadily being defined by strategic investments capable of driving economic prosperity for decades to come.