Makinde’s Aide Defends Streetlight Generators, Stadium Renovation

The Oyo State Government has defended its use of diesel-powered generators for streetlights and the renovation of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan, following criticism from the campaign organisation of Senator Sharafadeen Alli.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the administration would continue to keep major roads illuminated, arguing that unreliable electricity supply from the national grid necessitated the use of generators.

Olanrewaju said the government was also pursuing alternative energy solutions, noting that Oyo had built a 5MW solar plant which was being upgraded to 12MW.

The aide also defended the renovation of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, saying the project had enabled Ibadan to host international football matches, including a fixture involving Nigeria’s Falconets and Senegal in February 2026.

He explained that the temporary absence of Shooting Stars from international matches at the stadium was linked to further upgrades being carried out to meet evolving international standards.

His comments followed criticism from the Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation, which questioned Governor Seyi Makinde’s engineering credentials over the streetlight project.

The campaign organisation alleged that more than N250bn had been spent powering streetlights with diesel generators and criticised the arrangement as expensive and unsustainable. It also alleged that the renovated stadium failed to secure approval to host a continental fixture involving Shooting Stars.

The group further questioned why Shooting Stars had to play its CAF Confederation Cup home fixture against CS Sfaxien at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State, instead of the Lekan Salami Stadium.

Olanrewaju rejected the criticism, describing it as politically motivated and insisting that the stadium remained an important facility for sports development and international events.

He said further work at the complex should be viewed as part of efforts to maintain and improve the facility rather than evidence that the renovation had failed.

The aide also highlighted Makinde’s professional background, noting that the governor studied electrical engineering and had been recognised as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

The exchange comes as political activity increases ahead of the 2027 Oyo governorship election, with Makinde and Alli trading criticism over governance, professional credentials and public projects.

While the campaign organisation has raised questions about expenditure, streetlight reliability and stadium standards, the government maintains that its projects are delivering infrastructure and services.

Olanrewaju said the administration would remain focused on development and continue implementing its energy and infrastructure programmes despite criticism from political opponents.