Makinde's Security Control Room Lives Up to Campaign Promise

Governor Seyi Makinde's commitment to set up a Security Control Room was fulfilled during his first term, with the facility officially commissioned and operational by mid-2020. 

The expanded and refurbished State Security Control Room, located at the Oyo State Security Trust Fund Headquarters in Onireke, Ibadan, was inaugurated on June 17, 2020, less than a year into his administration. 

The facility was not built from scratch; rather, Governor Makinde inherited a previous control room at Iyaganku Police Area Command and significantly expanded and upgraded it, incorporating modern technological infrastructure to enhance security coordination across the state.

The Control Room emerged as a comprehensive security hub integrating multiple operational platforms. It houses the Oyo State City Watch Project, which enables real-time monitoring and response to security incidents; the Citizens' Emergency toll-free line (615), which had been procured by the previous administration but left non-operational until Makinde's team activated it; and the Oyo State Crime Alert Platform, accessible through both mobile application and the state government website, allowing citizens to report crimes and emergencies directly to security operatives. 

The facility also coordinates CCTV camera networks installed across strategic locations in the state, with live feeds enabling rapid response to criminal activities. 

By 2022, the facility was recommissioned following further expansion and refurbishment, signaling sustained investment in the infrastructure. The Security Control Room thus represents a tangible fulfillment of the promise, serving as the operational nerve center for coordinating multi-agency security responses in the state.