Two Diamond DA42 MNG surveillance aircraft worth N7.76 billion have been formally delivered to the Oyo State Government, which is a major step forward in its attempts to improve intelligence gathering and bolster security throughout the state.
More than a year after Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration authorized their purchase, the aircraft touched down at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
The purchase, which was first made public in July 2025, is a component of the state’s larger security plan, which uses improved aerial surveillance and quick response operations to combat banditry, abduction, and other violent crimes.
The aircraft will support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and provide real-time aerial monitoring for security agencies, such as the Amotekun Corps, the police, and other pertinent formations, according to Commissioner for Information Dotun Oyelade, who announced the arrival.
He pointed out that the planes are outfitted with cutting-edge surveillance gear that can follow and identify criminal activity from both low and high altitudes.On July 18, 2026, Governor Makinde had previously announced that the aircraft had reached Nigeria and were being assembled at the Nigerian Air Force hanger in Lagos prior to being sent to Oyo State.
The government’s pledge that they would be operating by the end of July is fulfilled by their arrival.
The government of Oyo State expressed hope that the new monitoring platforms will greatly boost intelligence collection, bolster coordinated security operations, and improve the safety of people and property throughout Oyo State and surrounding regions.
