The Oyo State Government has approved a staggering ₦63.4 billion for the rehabilitation and complete overhaul of structures within the Government House, following years of neglect that saw the state’s top officials refusing to reside there.
The disclosure was made by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ibadan.
Oyelade stated that the decision was reached at the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, describing the present state of the Government House as “an embarrassment and unbefitting” of the stature of the state.
“For six years, Governor Seyi Makinde and his deputy, Bayo Lawal, have resided in their personal homes due to the poor condition of the official quarters,” the commissioner said.
He noted that the banquet hall within the complex is scheduled to be completed before Oyo State’s 50th anniversary in 2026.
In a related development, the Executive Council also approved ₦14.2 billion for the installation of a new Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Ladoke Akintola Airport, Alakia, as part of efforts to upgrade the facility to international standard.
Oyelade explained that the original ILS procured by the Federal Government was damaged, prompting the state to take over the procurement and installation — a project scheduled to be completed within six months.
“The ILS is critical to ensuring safe aircraft landings, especially in poor weather conditions,” he added.
The upgrade of the airport was initially flagged off on September 18, 2024, and the facility was subsequently shut down in March 2025 to accelerate work progress.
