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Oyo: Infrastructure, education get lion’s share, as Makinde presents N208bn 2020 budget
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, presented a N208 billion 2020 budget estimates to the State House of Assembly for approval.
Governor Makinde while addressing the Assembly with a 16-page speech noted that his administration plans to be bullish with infrastructure development in the State by embarking 23 percent of the budget for the sector.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa indicated that the 23.93 percent allotted to infrastructure is the highest in the state’s history.
The Statement also indicated that in line with his administration’s belief that education remained the fastest way to take the people out of poverty and its commitment to delivering free and qualitative education in the State, the government has allocated the second highest percentage of the 2020 Budget, 22.37 per cent, to the education sector.
The Governor said: “I am here today to present to you the Oyo State Budget Proposal for the 2020 Fiscal Year. It is a budget that captures the aspirations of the good people of Oyo State. The farmers in Ido, Ilora, Ijaiye, and Akufo who wake up every morning hoping this is the day their relief will come. When the roads that link their farms to markets will be built and they can make more money for their toil.
“The market women and men in Gbagi Titun Market as well as the rural markets in Iresadu and Eruwa, whose hope is that the economy can be buoyant enough so that people can buy from them. The drivers and conductors on Iwo Road, Ogbomoso, Ipapo and Lalupon who do not want to spend all their takings on bus repairs. The civil servants at Agodi Secretariat who put in an honest day’s work and just want to get their salaries paid on time so they can care for their families.
“The students in public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions who want quality education so they can compete favourably with their counterparts worldwide. The old, the sick and infirm who want to go to a government hospital and get quality service without paying out of pocket. The small and medium scale business owners who want an enabling environment for their business to thrive.
“The big corporations who set up industries in Oyo State believing that government will play their role in providing a conducive environment for sustainable growth. It is a budget that every woman, man, and child in Oyo state can relate to and be proud of. A budget in keeping with our Roadmap for Accelerated Development in Oyo State 2019-2023.
“Mr Speaker Sir, Honourable Members, this is the first time I will be coming before you to present and defend a budget that is wholly this administration’s. Please permit me to share with you some of the key areas of the 2020 Oyo State Budget Proposal highlighting our revenue and expenditure plans and how this will contribute to the accelerated development of the economy of Oyo State.
“Let me start by saying that we are aiming for at least 70 per cent budget implementation. We believe we can even exceed this because we are not building castles in the air. Our proposed budget income matches our proposed expenditure.”
According to Governor Makinde, the capital expenditure of the State for the 2020 Budget was increased by 20 per cent compared to the 2019 Budget, with the capital expenditure estimate in the 2020 Budget proposal standing at N100,142,690,046 billion, representing 47.9 per cent of the budget.
The Governor added: “You will also note that our capital expenditure increased by about 20 per cent compared to the 2019 budget. Total capital expenditure of N100,142,690,046 billion is 47.9 per cent of the total budget estimate.
“The importance of this increase should not be lost on us. Increased allocation to capital projects directly contributes to a more buoyant economy and sustainable development. As stated earlier, we will not only be starting new projects, but also completing all ongoing viable projects from the previous administration.
“In all, Mr Speaker Sir, Honourable Members, I am happy to report that we have kept our promise to the people of Oyo State. When we set out to prepare the budget, our aim was to keep the budget realistic. To prepare a budget where projected revenue matches projected cost, unlike what has been the practice in the past.
“In 2019 for instance, the last administration projected N25.55Billion as revenue from MDAs and N91.59Billion from Statutory Allocations. These projections were higher than could be achieved. We have had to mark these down by 4.79 per cent for MDAs and 6.08 per cent from Statutory Allocations. However, we have reviewed Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) upwards based on various strategies we have put in place. We are expecting monthly revenue of at least Three Billion Naira starting from January 2020. You will be happy to hear that in the month of October, we were able to increase the state IGR by Four Hundred Million Naira, such that we had an IGR of Two Billion, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira recorded for that month.
“The last two sources of revenue are Capital Receipts which are down by about 10 per cent to N33.50Billion compared to the 2019 budget, and Loans for Capital Projects at N28.99Billion.
“It is, therefore, with a deep sense of responsibility that I present to you the Oyo State Budget Proposal for the 2020 Fiscal Year. I can assure that every kobo of the Two Hundred and Eight Billion, Eight Hundred and Two Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira Zero Kobo is accounted for. Every single expenditure is geared towards facilitating the accelerated development of our beloved Oyo State.
“Mr Speaker Sir, Honourable Members of the House, I said at the outset that this budget is of the people and for the people. I stand by my word. With this budget, every citizen of Oyo State has a workable plan that they can identify with. It has been my honour to present it to you and my prayer is that you give it due consideration in a timely manner so that implementation may commence and Oyo State will indeed get on the path to accelerated development,” the Governor said.
He stated that the sum of N35.4 billion has been provided in the 2020 budget towards the completion of ongoing and proposed road projects in the three senatorial zones of the State.
The Governor maintained that the administration will see to the completion of the recently awarded Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin road, which the contractor has agreed to complete in 12 months and other ongoing viable road projects in the State, adding that the government has concluded plans to collaborate with the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Oyo-Iseyin road.
He also announced the restructuring of the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) and the directive to establish zonal offices in Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki and Ibarapa to achieve an effective spread of its activities, adding that the ongoing Light Up Oyo State project through which Smart LED Street Lights were installed in Ibadan and solar lights in Oyo and Ogbomoso would be replicated across the major towns and cities in the State.
Governor Makinde further revealed that the 2020 Budget contained provisions for the procurement of new fire fighting vehicles, ambulances, water tankers and communication equipment for the security system.
Governor Makinde further said that in line with his Government’s four service point agenda, it has allocated 5.18 per cent and 4.43 per cent respectively to the Health and Agriculture sectors in the 2020 Budget proposal, noting that the Government remained committed to its determination to use agriculture to drive the State’s economy.
In the health sector, Governor Makinde stated that the major facelift and equipment provided to the Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, to ensure quality healthcare delivery to the citizenry will be extended beyond the state capital, noting that General Hospitals in Eruwa, Tede and Iseyin would be renovated in the 2020 fiscal year.
He maintained that having noticed the lacuna in the area of personnel for the health sector, his Government has given approval for the recruitment of 500 medical and health workers for the State’s hospitals, College of Nursing and Midwifery as well as the College of Health Science and Technology.
The Governor noted that the administration has begun the implementation of policies that would transform farming activities, increase production and improve the quality of food crops, livestock export and industrial crops through the application of modern technology, noting that the ongoing effort to upgrade two of the nine Farm Settlements in Eruwa and Akufo into Farm Estates remained on track.
Governor Makinde announced the return of the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP) headquarters to Saki, promising that the administration will restructure the system and fully strengthen it for efficient and effective performance of its responsibilities.
He also informed the gathering that the legal controversy over the 10,000 metric tons capacity silo at Aawe had been settled out of court, with the contractor already back to site with an agreement to deliver the project in 10 months.
Residents of the Hotoro area of Kano were thrown into panic after a woman allegedly set her co-wife and two children ablaze in a late-night domestic attack.
The incident occurred on Monday night in the Mai Allo area of Hotoro, leaving four persons with varying degrees of burns.
The victims — a 28-year-old woman and her two children aged seven and three — are currently receiving treatment at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
Their father, who reportedly sustained injuries while attempting to rescue the victims from the inferno, is also undergoing treatment.
A relative of the family informed that they received a distress call around 3am informing them that the woman, her husband and the children had been set ablaze.
According to the source, the victim had spent less than two weeks in her matrimonial home before the attack occurred.
“She is about 28 years old. The children are from her previous marriage. They are stepchildren to the husband, who works as a tricycle rider,” the relative added.
Residents of the area described the incident as horrifying and called on security agencies to ensure justice was served.
“We are shocked by what happened. This kind of violence has no place in our community,” a resident said.
The suspect has since been taken into custody at the Mariri Police Division.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Crime & Court
UNIBEN killing: Edo security squad arrests 12 suspected cultists, seals initiation centres
Security operatives in Edo State have arrested 12 suspected cultists and sealed two apartments allegedly used as initiation centres during coordinated raids across parts of Benin City following the killing of a young man near the gate of the University of Benin.
The operation, code-named “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers,” was carried out by the state’s Special Security Squad after the killing recorded on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Patrick Ebojele.
According to the statement, the Chief Security Officer and Principal Security Officer to the governor led the raids conducted in Ekosodin, Isihor, Old Road off S&T Barracks, Airport Road, 19th Street Ugbowo, Ogba-Evbuodia and Evbuomore Quarters, all in Benin City.
Spokesman for the security squad, Noah Idemudia, alleged that some youth leaders within communities in the state were aiding violent crimes and harbouring criminal elements.
He said intelligence reports indicated that sophisticated weapons used in deadly attacks were often traced to communities across the state.
“Reports reaching us indicate that some persons are allegedly harbouring criminals. Intelligence reports also suggest that sophisticated weapons used in deadly attacks on citizens are allegedly sourced from communities.
“The governor is warning community leaders to maintain peace in their various communities and ensure that no unlicensed weapons are found in their possession, as they will be held liable and treated as criminals,” Idemudia said.
He, however, clarified that the 12 suspects arrested were not directly linked to the killing near the university gate.
According to him, the suspects were allegedly identified as members of different cult groups after security operatives reportedly discovered symbols, signs and other incriminating materials on them during the raids.
Idemudia added that the suspects had been handed over to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for profiling and further investigation.
Speaking on the properties sealed during the operation, he said one of the apartments was allegedly being used as a cult initiation centre.
He explained that operatives came under attack while attempting to arrest suspects at the location, forcing authorities to seal the premises and invite the property owner for questioning.
He added that another apartment raided allegedly contained shrines and fetish items scattered across several rooms, which investigators suspect were being used for initiation into different confraternities.
According to him, the owner of the property had also been invited for questioning by security agencies.
“The governor has warned those sponsoring cultism and violent killings in the state to desist immediately.
“Anyone found aiding criminality in Edo State will face the full weight of the law, as the state will no longer be conducive for criminal elements,” Idemudia added.
He also warned against unlawful gatherings, alleging that some cult groups were planning anniversary celebrations across the state.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday convicted and sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a cumulative 75 years imprisonment in absentia over a ₦33.8bn money laundering scandal linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The judge ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years.
Justice Omotosho held that Mamman deliberately absented himself from court on the day of judgment and during the previous adjourned sitting in a bid to frustrate the administration of justice.
He agreed with counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 empowered the court to proceed with sentencing despite the defendant’s absence.
The court consequently sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine.
Mamman was also sentenced to three years imprisonment on Count 4 with an option of a ₦10m fine, and two years imprisonment on Count 5 without an option of fine.
Justice Omotosho further ordered that the sentence would commence from the date of Mamman’s arrest since he was convicted in absentia.
The judge directed security agencies within and outside Nigeria, including Interpol, to arrest the convict wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to serve his jail term.
The court also ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties linked to the former minister, alongside various sums recovered in different currencies by anti-graft agencies.
In addition, the court ordered Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the ₦22bn already traced to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects out of the ₦33.8bn allegedly diverted.
The conviction followed a lengthy trial instituted by the EFCC, which accused Mamman of conspiring with ministry officials and private companies to divert funds earmarked for the two power projects.
Mamman was arraigned on July 11, 2024 on a 12-count charge and pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits to support its case.
Following the close of the prosecution’s case, the former minister filed a no-case submission on November 19, 2025, contending that the EFCC had failed to establish sufficient evidence against him.
However, Justice Omotosho, in a ruling delivered on December 11, 2025, dismissed the application and held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the defendant to open his defence.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for continuation of defence before Wednesday’s judgment brought the proceedings to a close.
The case, regarded as one of the most significant corruption convictions in recent years, stemmed from Mamman’s arrest and detention by the EFCC on May 10, 2021.
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