The Oyo State Executive Council has approved the sum of ₦63.48 billion for the comprehensive renovation and upgrade of Government House facilities in Ibadan, as part of activities marking the state’s upcoming 50th anniversary.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the current condition of the Government House has been deemed “embarrassing” and unbefitting of a state of Oyo’s stature.
Oyelade highlighted that for the past six years, both Governor Seyi Makinde and his deputy have opted to reside in their personal homes due to the dilapidated state of their official residences. He added that the Banquet Hall would be completed ahead of the golden jubilee celebration, as a legacy project of the Makinde administration.
In addition to the renovation, the Council approved ₦131.75 million for the hiring of professional gardeners to maintain green spaces within the Government House premises.
Further infrastructural approvals include a ₦14.30 billion procurement and installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, as part of the state’s commitment to upgrading the facility to international standards. The commissioner explained that a previously supplied ILS by the Federal Government was damaged, and the state has now taken full responsibility to deliver and install a new system within six months.
Preparations are also ongoing to accommodate Customs, Immigration, and other border control agencies at the airport, aligning with global aviation benchmarks.
In a related development, the Council gave approval for the payment of the first tranche of the service agreement for the International Agro-Food Market to be sited in Ijaiye, Ibadan. The project, executed in collaboration with the African Development Bank and Semmaris, a Paris-based international agricultural produce firm, is valued at €2 million. A certificate of no objection has been issued for the commencement of the project.
The Executive Council also approved the second edition of the Oyo State International Tourism Summit, scheduled for July 2025.
To support urban planning and manage rapid urbanisation, a ₦130 million take-off grant was also approved for the New Towns and Cities Development Authority, a new agency tasked with decongesting existing urban centres and curbing the rise of slum settlements.
Finally, Oyelade announced an upward adjustment to the state’s 2025 supplementary budget, increasing it by ₦270.85 billion. The adjustment, he said, aligns with the administration’s strategic roadmap and is aimed at ensuring the completion of critical ongoing projects before the expiration of Governor Makinde’s tenure.
