Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has pushed back against critics of his administration’s ₦63 billion allocation for renovating the historic Government House in Agodi.

Speaking on Friday during a session at the Oyo State House of Assembly—marking its second anniversary—Makinde explained that the project’s high cost stems from rising foreign exchange rates, which affect numerous imported materials. Since Nigeria doesn’t locally produce essential items like asphalt or heavy-duty construction gear, costs are pegged in dollars.  

He emphasized that exchange rates are controlled federally, beyond state jurisdiction, and stressed that without these imports, even basic infrastructure work would still be expensive.