🚨 Oyo State Boosts Security With N7.7bn Surveillance Aircraft Procurement: What You Need to Know. By: Ayinde Adeleke

In a bold move to reinforce security across Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has approved the procurement of two cutting-edge surveillance aircraft worth ₦7.7 billion. The aircraft, DA42 MPP Guardian models, are specially equipped for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, making Oyo the first sub-national in Nigeria to deploy such advanced aerial assets for internal security operations.

This landmark decision aligns with the administration’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining, kidnapping, banditry, and other security threats that have plagued pockets of the state.

✈️ The Aircraft: DA42 MPP Guardian – Eyes in the Sky

The DA42 MPP (Multi-Purpose Platform) is a high-endurance, twin-engine aircraft manufactured by Diamond Aircraft Industries. According to the manufacturer, it comes fitted with mission-specific configurations, including:

EO/IR sensors for real-time surveillance

SATCOM and microwave line-of-sight downlink capabilities

Underfloor radar pods

Modular operator stations for live intelligence processing

Grey matte painting to minimize sun reflections and radar signature

These features allow the aircraft to detect movement, scan wide areas, and downlink high-resolution video feeds to ground stations, all while remaining cost-effective and low-maintenance.

According to Prince Dotun Oyelade, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, “These aircraft are preferred over helicopters because they are cheaper to maintain, easier to source parts for, and allow synergy with the Nigerian Air Force, which already uses the model.”

🚓 Amotekun and Beyond: A Multi-Layered Security Approach

The aircraft will bolster the capacity of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), Amotekun, which currently boasts:

2,500 personnel

181 patrol vehicles

450 motorcycles

Best remuneration structure among Amotekun corps in the Southwest

“These ISR aircraft will be used to identify and target criminal hideouts, particularly in remote and forested areas,” said Oyelade. "They will serve as a real-time intelligence tool for Amotekun and other security agencies operating within the state."

🛫 Airstrip Surveillance Hub at Igbeti & Otu

The move fulfills Governor Makinde's earlier promise—made during the April 2025 funeral of Madam Victoria Omolayo Oni in Igbeti—to establish a surveillance airstrip in Igbeti and Otu, key regions close to mining zones. This hub will serve as the launchpad for aerial operations, especially against illegal miners exploiting solid mineral-rich zones.

🛠️ Infrastructure and Energy Expansion in Tandem

In addition to this air defense initiative, the state government has greenlit the following infrastructure projects:

Construction of bridges and interchanges to improve mobility

Northeast and Southwest segment clearance of the 110km Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project

Commitment to complete 72km by 2027

A ₦595 million intervention in the Light-Up Oyo Solar Power Project to sustain urban security at night

🔍 A Model for Other States?

Security analysts have hailed Oyo’s strategy as a proactive template for subnational governments across Nigeria. In a nation where kidnappings and banditry cost lives and livelihoods, integrating modern surveillance with on-the-ground operations could set a precedent for smarter internal security.

Governor Makinde's administration is not only investing in visible infrastructure but is also quietly revolutionizing the state’s defense architecture. With ISR aircraft now in play, Oyo is taking surveillance and response capabilities to the skies—literally.

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