Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday took delivery of two surveillance aircraft acquired by the state government to strengthen intelligence gathering and improve security operations across the state.

The aircraft arrived at the Ibadan Airport, about a year after the governor announced plans to procure the security assets as part of efforts to reinforce the state's security architecture.

Speaking shortly after the aircraft landed, Makinde said the acquisition was driven by the need to complement security personnel on the ground, given Oyo State's vast landmass.

According to him, the investment was conceived long before the recent wave of insecurity but has proved to be timely.

"When we decided to purchase these surveillance aircraft, it was because of the sheer landmass and the size of our state. We knew we had to complement the boots on the ground," the governor said.

He noted that although the government did not anticipate the recent security challenges, including the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, the development underscored the importance of the investment.

"We didn't know what was going to happen. I've seen people criticise us and ask, 'Where is the aircraft?' But we planned for it so that we would be able to cover as much of the state's landmass as possible within the shortest time," he added.

Expressing satisfaction over the arrival of the aircraft, Makinde said they would become operational immediately through a partnership with the Nigerian Air Force.

"We're hitting the ground running. You can see the aircraft were flown by Air Force pilots. We have negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Air Force, and we will be working together," he said.

The governor assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise their safety and welfare, stressing that security remains essential for development.

"In an atmosphere of insecurity, you can hardly do anything. Now, our children are back, our teachers are back, and we're moving on with our plans. My message to the people of Oyo is that their government will always be there to serve them," he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, announced the arrival of the aircraft, describing it as another milestone in the state's efforts to strengthen security through improved aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering.

He recalled that the government announced the purchase of the aircraft on July 8, 2025, and that the governor had confirmed on July 18, 2026, that they had arrived in Nigeria and were being reassembled at the Nigerian Air Force hangar in Lagos.

According to Oyelade, the aircraft are expected to support the Nigerian Air Force, the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), and other security agencies in monitoring forests, border communities, and other identified flashpoints to improve intelligence gathering and rapid response to criminal activities.