The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde on Wednesday, said that the “Light Up Oyo project” embarked upon by his administration has enhanced the security architecture and the economy of the state.
Makinde, who stated this while receiving delegates from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, led by Air Vice-Marshal Ebenezer Alade, at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, appreciated the team for choosing Oyo State as one of the states to carry out their research tagged, “Enhancing Natural Security Through Social Economic Development.”
The Governor said his government was taking as many people as possible off the streets as far as the security situation in Oyo State is concerned, reiterating his administration’s plan to keep supporting security agencies in order to reduce crime to its barest minimum in the state.
Makinde stated: “You can go out at night to see what we are doing about the light-up project. What we have done is just about 30 percent of what we are supposed to do on the project. And I assure that we will attain 100 percent on or before Christmas. That has assisted the security agencies to go out freely.”
He disclosed that from inception, his administration developed what is called a Roadmap for Accelerated Development of Oyo State 2019-2023 which focused on four major areas of Education, Health, Security, and Economic expansion through agriculture value chain, while highlighting the successes achieved in each major area.
On education, he noted that his administration had taken over 50,000 children from the streets and put them back in school; on health, he said one Primary Healthcare Center is being renovated in each of the 351 wards in the state in order to provide basic primary health care at the ward level.
For the expansion of the economy, Makinde explained that the state has a comparative advantage in the field of agriculture due to its arable land, which has helped in increasing the IGR; and on security, Makinde asserted that the state has been able to react adequately to security challenges.
“The last pillar is security. If you notice, we share an international border with the Republic of Benin. So, everything that is happening in the Sahel has the potential of getting into Nigeria through the border. Before we came in, there was nothing like Amotekun but we set it up, which is our security outfit meant to collaborate with other federal security outfits. We have had our own fair share of one-off security challenges but we have been able to react adequately,” the governor affirmed.
The Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Air Vice Marshal Ebenezer Alade, said the tour of the eight states of the federation is an annual ritual programme and part of the school curriculum that allows the students to carry out various research across the states.
Alade noted that security in present-day Nigeria is beyond human security which requires more of social welfare and human development to reduce crime.
“We are on a study tour to Oyo State to meet with His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde. I want to appreciate the state for the warm reception as well. I want to use this opportunity to appreciate what the governor has been doing, which we are very proud of. And we pray that God will continue to be with you so that the state will continue to progress and enjoy your good works,” the Commandant concluded.
PIAK
