Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Monday surprised many observers as he presented a sharply expanded N891.99 billion budget proposal for 2026, almost N200 billion higher than the N684 billion approved for 2025.

The unusually larger financial blueprint, laid before the Oyo State House of Assembly, immediately signalled the governor’s intention to scale up infrastructure, education, and security investments in the coming year.

The presentation, witnessed by top traditional rulers including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, underscored the weight of the moment as Makinde defended the expanded spending plan.

Of the proposed N891.99 billion, the governor allocated N389.34 billion for recurrent expenditure and N502.65 billion for capital projects, his administration’s most ambitious capital push yet.

Makinde explained that infrastructure alone would take N210.02 billion; education, N155.21 billion; health, N70.81 billion; and agriculture, N19.99 billion, while multi-sectoral programmes would take N435.9 billion.

But beyond the numbers, Makinde linked the budget’s scale to the growing need for stronger security. With national concerns over escalating threats, he assured residents that Oyo State was not only aware but prepared.

He revealed that the state had acquired two brand-new aircraft to strengthen aerial surveillance across all 33 local government areas, an investment he described as crucial for the safety of lives and property.

“There is no need for fear,” Makinde told the legislators. “Our security architecture is robust enough to confront current and emerging threats. Oyo State is ready.”