Oyo State Government, on Wednesday, approved the sum of ₦63,479,858,000 for the reconstruction of structures within the state Government House.
This was contained in a press release by the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, after the weekly State Executives Council.
As stated in the release, the Council described the current state and ambience of the Government House as an embarrassment and unbefitting facility.
The commissioner stated that, for the past six years, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and his deputy, Chief Bayo Lawal, have been living in their personal houses, instead of their official residences at the Government House.
He noted that the banquet hall at the Government House will be completed before the 50th anniversary of Oyo State, next year as part of the Makinde administration legacy for the next administration.
The Council also approved the sum of ₦131,751,530 to employ professional gardeners for the maintenance of green areas and other designated places within the Government House.
Similarly, in fulfilment of its determination to upgrade the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport to international standard, the Oyo State is processing the installation of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS).
The approval was given for the procurement and installation by the State Executive Council for a sum of ₦14,296,507,000.
According to Prince Oyelade, the ILS technology would ensure the smooth landing of aircraft, especially in bad weather.
The commissioner added that an earlier instrument procured by the Federal Government was damaged, but the state government has taken it upon itself to procure and install another one within six months.
It will be recalled that the airport upgrade, which was officially flagged off on 18 September, 2024, shut down last March to intensify work on the project.
Prince Oyelade restated that facilities are being put in place at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport for the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and other vital agencies to meet international standards.
He disclosed that the runway upgrade, apron, taxiway, blast pads among others will be completed before the end of 2025, all things being equal.
Prince Oyelade added in the release that the International Terminal construction of the airport will be ready by June 2026 for such flights.
According to him, the resumption of operation at the Ladoke Akintola Airport is subject to approval by relevant federal aviation agencies.
Oyelade further stated that the State Executive Council also approved the payment of the first installment for the service agreement on the International Agro-Food Market to be constructed at Ijaiye.
“The agreement for the construction of the fresh produce international market is in conjunction with the African Development Bank (AfDB) that has issued a certificate of no objection for the project,” he stated.
According to the commissioner, Oyo State is collaborating with a Paris, Italy-based fresh agric produce international farm company, Semmaris, at a cost of €2 million.
He stated that Council also approved the second edition of the 2025 Oyo State International Tourism Summit which will take place in July.
“Also, a take-off grant of ₦130,000,000 was approved for the Oyo State New Towns and Cities Development Authority.
“The agency was established to relieve urban cities of structural congestion and avoid the resultant urban slums,” he stated.
Oyelade also revealed that the state 2025 supplementary budget has been increased by ₦270,854,500,000 to align with the roadmap blueprint to complete ongoing projects before the end of the Makinde administration.
