Makinde allocates ₦3 billion for Amotekun projects in early 2026

Governor Seyi Makinde’s government has released N3 billion for the Oyo State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps in the first half of 2026. But there was no spending on the agency's overhead, even though the budget had provisions for it. This is according to a review of official budget documents by PREMIUM TIMES.

The findings are in Oyo State’s 2026 Second Quarter Budget Performance Report. The report also showed that the agency received ₦1.84 billion for personnel costs in the six months.

The report indicated that the agency spent ₦3 billion out of its ₦5.66 billion capital allocation between January and June. This means the agency achieved a capital expenditure performance of 53.1 percent.

But while the agency had ₦200 million budgeted for overhead expenses this year, there was no record of spending in that category. This spending trend comes as security issues continue in Oyo and other parts of Nigeria. State governments are putting money into security to support federal agencies.

The budget performance report revealed that Oyo generated a total revenue of ₦606.37 billion from January to June 2026. The state’s share from the Federation Account Allocation Committee was ₦398.4 billion, and Internally Generated Revenue contributed ₦55.47 billion.

Oyo also recorded ₦42.31 billion as an opening balance from 2025, ₦736.27 million from aids and grants, and ₦164.92 billion from domestic loans and borrowings.

During the same period, the Makinde government spent ₦387.26 billion. This included ₦136.95 billion on recurrent expenditure and ₦250.31 billion on capital projects. A review of the 2026 Appropriation Law showed that capital allocation for the Oyo State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps included office equipment and major security infrastructure.

Approved items include three HP computer systems costing ₦1.5 million, an HP LaserJet 2035 printer for ₦1 million, a scanner worth ₦500,000, and a Canon photocopier valued at ₦1.5 million. There were also ballistic vests, helmets, and water pumps estimated at ₦100 million, along with five Canon ESS500 cameras worth ₦500,000.

The budget also includes the construction of airstrips and logistics facilities at Alakia Airport, which has a budget of ₦5.55 billion. It is unclear how this relates to state security. PREMIUM TIMES could not get a comment from the Oyo State Government about this.

While the budget report stated that ₦3 billion was spent on capital projects, it did not specify which projects or procurements received the funds. Under another budget line for security equipment, the report showed that ₦804.74 million was spent out of an approved ₦5.35 billion allocation.

The report also pointed out that some other security-related allocations were underutilized. For instance, ₦1.505 billion was allocated for security services, but only ₦160,000 had been spent by the end of June.

Similarly, Oyo had limited spending on its security vote. The 2026 budget approved ₦142 million for security vote and operations, but only ₦15 million had been spent by the end of the second quarter. This is about 10.6 percent of the budget performance.

Security votes and related allocations by state governments are usually for supporting security agencies with logistics, intelligence gathering, fuel supply, operational vehicles, and stipends for local vigilante groups. But the budget report did not break down how the funds were spent, making it hard to see how the money was used.

This spending report comes just after the Oyo State Government received two surveillance aircraft bought for ₦7.76 billion to boost security operations statewide. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the Diamond DA42 Multi-Purpose Platform aircraft arrived at Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan over a year after the state announced plans to buy them.

The Makinde administration said the aircraft will help improve the state’s ability to detect, monitor, and respond to security threats. This purchase reflects a trend where some state governments are investing in security assets to support federal agencies. With issues like kidnapping and banditry still a problem, Oyo and other South-west states have seen increased investment in intelligence-led security operations.