Makinde unveils 25-year development plan for Oyo tourism sector
By Adejayan Gbenga, Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has unveiled a 25-year tourism development plan aimed at positioning the state as a leading tourism hub in South-West Nigeria.
Makinde disclosed this on Wednesday at the International Tourism Summit Oyo State 2026 themed,“From Groundwork to Governance: Building Tourism That Endures.”
According to the governor, his administration is laying a solid foundation for sustainable tourism through infrastructure development, improved security and the revitalisation of major tourist sites across the state.
He stated that the government was institutionalising tourism policies to ensure continuity beyond political administrations, stressing that development should not depend on individuals alone.
Makinde highlighted ongoing road projects, noting that motorists can now travel about 180 kilometres on the Moniya–Iseyin–Ogbomoso and Iseyin–Oyo corridors without encountering potholes.
He also said construction work had commenced on the 110-kilometre Ibadan Circular Road, a project abandoned for decades, adding that frameworks were being developed for tourism assets such as Eleyele Lake.
According to the governor, the state has also signed a 15-year concession agreement for Bower’s Tower with SystemSpecs following the 2025 tourism summit.
Reacting to the development, former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and other stakeholders commended the administration’s infrastructure drive, while the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, said the state’s tourism agenda was anchored on consistency and coordinated execution.
