Oyo renovates govt house with N63.4bn to mark 50th anniversary

Oyo State Executive Council, on Wednesday, approved the sum of N63,479,858,000 for the overhauling of the Government House structures.

A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in Ibadan, the state capital, said the council described the current state and ambience of the Government House as an embarrassment and an unbefitting facility.

He observed that for the past six years, the Governor and his deputy have been living in their personal houses instead of their official residences at the Government House.

Oyelade noted that the Banquet Hall at the Government House would be completed before the 50th anniversary of the state, next year, as part of the Seyi Makinde administration’s legacy for the next administration.

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The commissioner said, “The Council also approved the sum of N131,751,530 to employ professional gardeners for the maintenance of green areas and other designated places of the Government House.

“Similarly, in fulfillment of its determination to upgrade the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport to International standards, the government is processing the installation of Instrument Landing Systems.

“The approval was given for the procurement and installation by the State Executive Council for a sum of ₦14,296,507,000.

“The ILS technology ensures the smooth landing of aircraft especially in bad weather.”

He explained further that an earlier instrument procured by the Federal Government was damaged, and the state has taken it upon itself to procure and install another one within six months.

Oyelade reiterated that facilities are being put in place for Customs, Immigration and other vital agencies to meet International standards.

In a related development, the Executive Council also approved the payment of the first installment for the service agreement on the International Agro-Food Market, which will be constructed in Ijaiye, Ibadan.

The agreement for the construction of the fresh produce international market is in conjunction with the African Development Bank, which has issued a certificate of no objection for the project.

Oyelade said, “The State Government is collaborating with a Paris-based fresh agric produce international farm company, Semmaris, at a cost of €2 million.

“The council also approved the second edition of the 2025 Oyo State International Tourism Summit which will take place in July.”

The commissioner also said a take-off grant of N130,000,000 was approved for the state’s New Towns and Cities Development Authority.

According to him, the agency was established to relieve structural congestion in urban cities and avoid the resulting urban slums.

He also revealed that the state 2025 supplementary budget has been increased by ₦270,854,500,000 to align with the state roadmap blueprint to complete ongoing projects before the end of the Seyi Makinde administration.