The Oyo State Government has clarified the rationale behind its proposed N63.4 billion expenditure to renovate and reconstruct the over 70-year-old Government House.
In a statement released in Ibadan on Friday, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, addressed criticisms over the initiative, emphasizing that the project goes far beyond mere renovation.
Oyelade stated, “Referring to the plan as simply a renovation is either a misunderstanding or a deliberate misrepresentation. The initiative is a full-scale overhaul as part of a broad development agenda.”
He highlighted that the Makinde-led administration currently oversees over 200 major projects across the state, including the Samuel Ladoke Akintola International Airport, the 110-kilometre Circular Road, LAUTECH’s Iseyin campus, and the Fashola Agro-Industrial Hub.
Defending the government’s priorities, Oyelade said, “This administration has significantly improved the state’s finances. Our Internally Generated Revenue has grown by over 300 percent—from approximately N1.5 billion to N7.8 billion as of May 2025.”
He also noted that Oyo State supports the largest public workforce in Nigeria, with monthly salary payments totaling N14.5 billion—an annual commitment of over N174 billion. Additionally, the state has hired over 27,000 new employees, disbursed N13 billion in pensions and gratuities, and provides daily transportation subsidies for more than 42,000 residents.
On the specifics of the Government House project, the commissioner revealed that 21 different buildings and facilities will be involved in the upgrade. These include the presidential lodge and banquet hall—scheduled for completion ahead of the state’s 50th anniversary in February 2026—as well as the governor and deputy governor’s official residences.
The project also encompasses quarters and chalets for staff and visitors, worship centres such as a mosque and church, a botanical garden, internal roads, landscaping, perimeter fencing, and new furniture installations. A helipad will also be constructed to accommodate helicopter landings by visiting dignitaries and the state’s leadership.
Oyelade explained that the decision takes into account both the historical significance of the location and the need to provide a functional, dignified residence for the state’s top officials. “This site once housed respected figures like Sir John Rankin and Sir Adesoji Aderemi,” he noted.
He dismissed a recent suggestion by a 2027 governorship aspirant, who proposed distributing the N63.4 billion as cash handouts to citizens, calling it “juvenile and laughable.”
