The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, said that his administration had laid the foundation to make the state the tourism capital of South-West Nigeria and one of the leading tourism destinations in the country.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Makinde spoke on Wednesday, May 13, at the International Tourism Summit Oyo State 2026, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The summit was themed, “From Groundwork to Governance: Building Tourism That Endures.”
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor said his administration had invested in infrastructure, security, policy reforms and economic enablers to support long-term tourism growth.
Makinde said ongoing road projects across the state would improve access to towns, communities and tourist sites, thereby opening up Oyo for more investment and visitors.
He said, “Some of you here were part of the tour of the Oke Ogun Zone. I hope you can now see why Oyo is set to become the tourism capital of South-West Nigeria in the coming years.”
The governor added, “I usually boast to people that from the train station in Moniya, you can drive at least 180 kilometres on state roads with no single pothole.”
He said improved connectivity remained central to the state’s tourism and economic agenda.
Makinde also addressed concerns over policy continuity, saying investors often worry about what happens after a change in government.
He said, “When investors consider opportunities within our environment, there’s always an underlying question: what happens after this administration? Will policies continue? Will agreements be honoured?”
The governor said his administration was building systems that would outlive political transitions.
“Leadership changes, but systems endure. So, our focus has been deliberate. For this tourism sector, we’re not just initiating projects, we’re building structures that can sustain them,” he stated.
Makinde cited the 110-kilometre Circular Road project, first conceived in the early 2000s, as an example of how lack of continuity could delay development.
Oyo Develops 25-Year Tourism Plan
The governor disclosed that the state had set up a committee for a 25-year tourism master plan and was also preparing development frameworks for key tourism assets, including Eleyele Lake.
He added that the state had signed a 15-year concession agreement with SystemSpecs for the management of Bower’s Tower.
Addressing investors, Makinde said Oyo now offered a stable framework for long-term investment.
“It means that when you engage with Oyo, you are engaging with a system where decisions are guided by frameworks, engagement is coordinated across government, and projects are anchored in long-term plans,” he said.
Earlier, former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, commended Makinde for his infrastructure drive and efforts to promote tourism and regional economic integration.
Fayemi urged the state government to ensure that tourism development was institutionalised and not built around individuals.
“For tourism to be sustained and developed, it must be institutionalised rather than personalised,” he said.
He also called for the establishment of a South-West Tourism Circuit that would connect tourist attractions across the region.
Presenting the state’s 25-Year Tourism Master Plan Framework, Kola Lawal said the plan was designed to attract investment and promote Oyo’s cultural and heritage assets.
Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and Managing Director of Whatadeal Africa, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, also praised the government for improving road infrastructure to support tourism.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, said the framework being developed by the state would ensure coordination, consistency and long-term growth in the tourism sector.