Oyo Govt To Regulate Hospitality Sector To Boost IGR

IBADAN – In line with the commitment of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to expand the economy of Oyo State through tourism and hospitality, the state gov­ernment has expressed its readiness to clamp down on illegal and unregis­tered hotels and hospitality business­es in the state.

Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, made this known at a press confer­ence held at the Conference Room of the Ministry, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

According to him, the Ministry will work with registered hospitali­ty business owners such as hoteliers and security agencies to rid the state of illegal and unregistered hotels, hospitality establishments and tour agencies.

He explained that the effort is geared towards improving the state’s internally generated revenue and reducing crimes associated with the tourism and hospitality sector.

Olatunbosun, who noted that there has been an influx of businesses into Oyo State due to Governor Makinde’s infrastructure development drive and the security architecture he put in place in the state, said the government will not allow some elements to game the system.

He announced that the clamp down process will begin next week with the creation of awareness and sensitisation across all geopolitical zones of the state, after which en­forcement will follow immediately, with serious penalties for offenders.

He said: “At the commencement of the second term administration of Governor Makinde, it was explicitly stated that the economy of the state would be driven by tourism for sus­tainable development.

“This was sequel to the provision of all necessary infrastructure and facilities during the Omituntun 1.0. What that implies is that this admin­istration has laid a solid foundation for accelerated development. That is what has made tourism thrive in Oyo State.

“The roads we have constructed to link all the tourism corridors together, the inter-towns and intra-town roads are also dualised and rehabilitated to ease movement. Security agencies are well-funded and supported with the procurement of patrol vans and complemented with the massive re­cruitment of able-bodied men and women into the Oyo State Amotekun.

“This has made Oyo State to be among the most secured and peaceful states in Nigeria. There is also a great improvement in environmental sani­tation. Governor Makinde succeeded in doing all of these for the state be­cause he believes that tourism must thrive in Oyo State.

“Apart from these, we revived night businesses in Oyo State through the Light-up Oyo. You will recollect that there was nothing like night business before this administration came in. It was very difficult even to drive at night. So, this government has revived night business in the state.