The Osun State Government has approved plans to procure new surveillance drones as part of a wider security infrastructure overhaul, following revelations that critical security assets previously paid for could not be accounted for.
Governor Ademola Adeleke gave the directive after a four-day security review meeting in Osogbo, where officials assessed the state’s security spending, asset base, and operational gaps.
According to the state government, five surveillance drones that were fully funded under the previous administration were not found in the state’s inventory when the current government assumed office in 2022. The development has raised fresh concerns about procurement accountability and asset tracking in public security expenditure.
In addition, officials disclosed an unexecuted security contract worth about ₦300 million, tied to the supply of armoured vehicles. The equipment, however, was reportedly left in a non-operational state.
As part of corrective measures, the Adeleke administration says it has already refurbished recovered armoured personnel carriers to improve immediate security response capacity, while also moving to replace the missing drones.
The development highlights ongoing concerns around public procurement efficiency, contract execution, and value-for-money in state security spending, as governments increasingly rely on technology-driven surveillance to combat banditry and other threats.
