By Adeola Badru
IBADAN — The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has welcomed the newly granted autonomy to the Oyo Passport Office, describing the development as a significant step towards decentralising government services and stimulating economic activities in the ancient city.
The monarch said the development would bring critical government services closer to residents, particularly those in rural and semi-urban communities who previously had to travel to Ibadan or Ilorin to access passport-related services.
Oba Owoade stated this through a high-powered delegation led by a member of the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi), High Chief Asimiyu Atanda, during a visit to the Oyo Passport Office to felicitate with its management on the autonomy recently granted to the facility.
Before the development, the Oyo Passport Office operated as an appendage of the Ibadan Passport Office and was required to refer certain operations to the latter.
