IBADAN, Oyo State — The arrival of the surveillance aircraft procured by the Oyo State Government has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many Nigerians questioning both its quality and the value for money spent on the project.
The aircraft, reportedly acquired by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde at a cost of ₦7.7 billion, arrived in Oyo State on Tuesday after months of anticipation.
However, rather than attracting praise, the delivery triggered a wave of reactions from netizens following a report by NaijaonpointOnline announcing its arrival.
Several social media users expressed disappointment with the appearance and perceived performance of the aircraft.
One Facebook user, Israel Adebayo, wrote that a “drone is better than this join-join aircraft,” suggesting that modern surveillance drones would have been a more effective investment.
Another commenter, Sulaimon Yemi, described the aircraft as looking like “okrika,” a local term commonly used to refer to second-hand or substandard items.
Marcome Olanrewaju was even more critical, alleging that the aircraft failed to justify its reported cost.
«”Can you imagine… ₦7.7 billion surveillance aircraft moving like crab. Sophisticated and well-equipped drones are far, far better than this. EFCC is watching. They have already seen Exhibit Number One,” he wrote.»
Similarly, Ade Bam questioned the procurement in a brief but pointed remark, asking, “Is this a joke?”
The reactions have fueled debate online over the procurement process, the suitability of the aircraft for surveillance operations, and whether the state government obtained value for the reported expenditure.
As of the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government had not issued any official response to the criticisms circulating on social media.