Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has pledged to focus on tourism and solid minerals development if re-elected into office in 2023.

Mr Makinde made the pledge in Iseyin during the 41 days of Muslim Fidau prayers for the late Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganiyu Salau.

He also promised that his administration would make Iseyin, located in the northern part of the state, the solid minerals development capital of Nigeria.

He stated that his administration’s decision to connect Iseyin to all other zones of Oyo State through road infrastructure was associated with its plan to make Iseyin the centre of the state and a solid minerals development hub in the country.

He said that his policy document, known as Oyo Roadmap for Accelerated Development 2023-2027, would capture tourism and solid mineral development as viable tools for achieving the economic expansion agenda of the administration.

On what his administration had done for the ancient town, Mr Makinde said “we have completed the 65 kilometres Moniya-Iseyin Road, while the 76 kilometres Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road had gone beyond 50 per cent.

“The administration is also constructing the Oyo-Iseyin Road in the same axis.”

The governor further hinted that the Iseyin General Hospital was among the hospitals captured in the French Government Intervention Programme for the healthcare sector in the state.

He explained that his government would work out how to derive benefits from the Ikere Gorge Dam and other tourist attractions across the state.

He declared that the resuscitation of the Ikere Gorge Dam was a top priority project for the administration and that it would receive attention once funds were available.

Mr Makinde said his government would continue to deliver on its electioneering promises till the last day of his first tenure.

He added that more developmental projects would come to Iseyin and the entire Oyo State if the people re-elected him as their governor in 2023.

The governor described the late Aseyin as an individual who loved Iseyin and did his best to attract development to the town.

(NAN)