Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has called on investors in hospitality and tourism industry to use the current window of investment opportunity to invest in the state. He made the call while receiving members of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) led by the President Hajia Bolaji Mustapha who came on a thank-you-visit after the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Akure, the state capital.

Aiyediwa described Ondo state as peaceful and conducive with vast tourism assets. He said his government is currently building infrastructures in the areas of road network to make accessibility to tourism sites easy and that it is also paying greater attention to the sector.

Speaking on some of the key factors that make Ondo conducive for investment, he said: “the state has been adjudged to be one of the most peaceful and safest states in Nigeria. It is true that there is no country in the whole world that is 100 percent free of crime, but the degree of response and security architecture is what you look at. Here you have experienced it and seen who we are. I like the statement of your president. She said she was going to come again, and that she would invite people. I was asking her that were you able to visit Idanre hill? She said no.  I told her to come back and visit Idanre hills.

“We are trying to build a lot of infrastructures to support tourism, we have just started. In fact, I am even saying that it is too early for people to begin to visit Araromi, but it is good for you to have the appetite, so that you can see foretaste of what is to come.

“Like the road you passed, you can see it is a brand new road, no single pot hole from Igbokoda, down to Araromi, that axis. That is my local government. There are so many infrastructures that I need to put in place, but some of them are going to be done by private investors, that are why as government we do the road, create access. Let us business minded people build resorts, build hotels, and we will provide the enabling environment. That is what we are trying to. I believe Ondo State will do well as a tourist destination.”

He said the state currently has one branded hotel,  BON Hotel, but was in advance discussion with another international brand to come to the state.

 He also spoke on access to the state: “For access to Ondo State, we are creating a lot of routes and means to get here. Currently, three airlines fly to Akure-Overland, Air Peace, and Green Africa. We are currently dualising the road from Ondo town to Ore just to create access for those who want to go on road. Deep sea port is coming up in that axis and you know what that means, when you have a port in any state. You cannot imagine the economic value that brings. There will be movements; population will increase and so on. For anyone who wants to think ahead in the areas of hospitality and tourism this is the time so that they can have first movers’ advantage, which is very key in any business before new entrants will begin to come. Set you standard, have your market share, and when you offer good services and people taste it, they won’t go, they will get hooked. So this is the time to invest. 

“Also, the Lagos-Calabar highway passing through that corridor, and by the time they come Lagos axis, which is about 105 kilometers, and get to Ogun State, about 35 kilometers, and come into Ondo State which is about 72 kilometers, it is going to be four lane on each side, direct express road from Lagos, down to Ondo, before going to Delta, that will take you just 45 minutes from Lagos to Araromi.”

The NATOP President, Hajia Bolaji Mustapha, in her speech commended the state for its serenity and beautiful undiluted tourist sites and promised that association would continue to organize tours to state to build it as a destination.