Nearly a week after the first wide-bodied aircraft landed at the upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Alakia, Ibadan, Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has said that his government will do more to attract investors into the state.
He stated that the upgrading of the airport has rewritten its 43-year-old history, but his government will not stop just yet, as its vision is to make the facility welcoming to investors, who would come into the state and always wish to come back.
The governor, who spoke on Wednesday, at The Jagz Hospitality Conference, held in commemoration of the first anniversary of the hotel in the state, said the government would sustain its policies, which attracted the hotel into the state and have been attracting many other businesses, while it will also up the ante to ensure that more investors are attracted into the state.
He added that the state government would continue to support businesses in the state to thrive irrespective of the economic challenges in the country.
Governor Makinde commended the management and staff of The Jagz Hotel, charging them not to rest on their oars.
He said: “I am glad to be here one year after we commissioned this business. The business has not folded up and it is still waxing very strong.
“It is not by accident when you see things happen. It is because people are putting in the hard work. They are putting in everything necessary to keep the venture going.
“So, the staff members, the management, and even some of you that are patrons here, let me commend you for various roles that you are playing, especially the management. It is not easy.
“Since that one year, there has been a lot within the economic environment, and that you are still standing shows that you have together a team. And, I can only assure you that as a government, whatever you need from us, please ask, we will oblige.”
The governor equally addressed the issue of import substitution, noting that the theory that the country’s economic challenges would go away once its people focus only on the local economic environment is defective.
He maintained that while Oyo State has remained open to local businesses coming into the state, it could not afford to rely solely on those businesses to bring its vision of economic expansion to reality, hence its decision to upgrade Ibadan Airport to international standards such that it can accommodate investors from all parts of the world.
“When we look at our environment, we do have challenges. We have all the building blocks. We have everything that can create success. But from when you come into this country there is a big challenge.
“When people say that, well, we have a huge population, over 200million people. So let’s look inward, let’s patronise ourselves. I have news for people with that theory. Nowhere in the world has any country been successful through import substitution by focussing on its local environment. No. And Nigeria will not be an exception.
“Import substitution or looking at your own local environment will not work. But if you have people coming from all over the world that are interested in coming to our own environment, we can start attracting people within our local environment.
“Let us say internal tourism, which is what we witness in Ibadan and all over Oyo State. We’ve seen people, majorly from Lagos, who now see Ibadan as their playground. We want them to come and play around here. We will do more to attract them. But that is not enough for us.
“And, that is why for this administration, it was a thing of joy when, last Friday, the first wide-bodied aircraft landed at Ibadan Airport. And Ibadan Airport was commissioned in 1982. So, the airport is 43 years old, but this is the first time a wide-bodied aircraft has landed here. Yes, it is better late than never. So, we have been able to turn around the disappointment of 43 years.
“We got that approval in May 2024. So within a year, we have been able to extend the runway such that we can have this wide-bodied aircraft land here. But we are not stopping there. We want to dare to be different. We want to make Ibadan airport more welcoming than any other airport in Nigeria. We want people from across the world to be able to come here, feel welcome, and then come back again.
“And that is my charge to the management and staff of Jagz. Do not be satisfied with being the best hotel in Ibadan, aspire to be the best in Nigeria and even Africa.”
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, said the present administration under the leadership of Governor Makinde has expanded the economy through tourism and solid mineral development.
He called on all stakeholders in tourism and the hospitality business to continue to support the government.
On the governor’s entourage were the PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda and the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Akinade Fijabi, among others.
