Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that his administration is laying the foundation to position the state as the tourism capital of the South-West and one of Nigeria’s leading tourism destinations.
Makinde stated this on Wednesday at the International Tourism Summit Oyo State 2026 held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor said ongoing infrastructure development, improved security and renewed efforts to revitalise tourist sites would boost tourism and attract investors to the state.
Speaking at the summit themed, “From Groundwork to Governance: Building Tourism That Endures,” Makinde stressed the importance of policy continuity in sustaining long-term investments in the tourism sector.
“Some of you here participated in the tour of the Oke Ogun Zone. You can now see why Oyo State is on course to become the tourism capital of South-West Nigeria in the coming years,” the governor said.
He highlighted several road projects being executed across the state, noting that improved connectivity remained crucial to tourism development and economic growth.
“I usually tell people that from the train station in Moniya, one can travel about 180 kilometres on state roads without encountering a pothole,” he added.
Makinde acknowledged concerns by investors over policy inconsistency after changes in government, assuring stakeholders that his administration was building systems capable of outlasting political transitions.
According to him, governance should be driven by enduring institutions rather than individual officeholders.
“When investors come into an environment, they always want to know what happens after the current administration. Will agreements be honoured? Will policies continue? These are legitimate concerns,” he said.
The governor cited the ongoing 110-kilometre Circular Road project as an example of how policy discontinuity had delayed development, noting that the project was initially conceived in the early 2000s before work eventually commenced under his administration.
“Leadership changes, but institutions and systems should endure. That is why we are not just executing projects; we are building structures that can sustain them,” Makinde stated.
He further disclosed that the state government had constituted a committee to develop a 25-year tourism master plan and establish long-term frameworks for tourism assets, including Eleyele Lake.
Makinde also revealed that the government had entered into a 15-year concession agreement with SystemSpecs for the management of the historic Bower’s Tower in Ibadan.
Addressing investors at the summit, the governor assured them that Oyo State offers a stable environment backed by clear development frameworks and coordinated government engagement.
“It means that when you invest in Oyo State, you are engaging with a system guided by long-term planning and structured governance,” he said.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who also spoke at the summit, commended Makinde for ongoing infrastructure development and efforts to strengthen tourism and regional integration.
Fayemi, however, urged the state government to institutionalise tourism policies to ensure sustainability beyond any administration.
“For tourism to thrive, it must be institutionalised and not personalised,” he said.
He also advocated the creation of a South-West Tourism Circuit to connect major tourist destinations across the region.
Presenting the state’s 25-year tourism master plan framework, Kola Lawal said the initiative was designed to attract investors and unlock the state’s cultural and heritage potential.
Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and Managing Director of Whatadeal Africa, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, also commended the government for improving infrastructure to support tourism growth in the state.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, said the framework being developed would ensure coordination, consistency and long-term expansion of the tourism sector in Oyo State.
