Makinde Woos Investors in Cairo, Says Oyo Among Nigeria’s Safest States

Foreign and local investors desirous of investing in Oyo State have been assured of a safe and secure environment, with the state governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, insisting that the state is one of the safest in the country.

The governor gave this indication in an interview with a news channel, on the sidelines of the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) 2023, held in Cairo, Egypt, noting that he has been running a responsible and responsive government, which has invested and continues to invest heavily on security.

He added that apart from security, Oyo State has comparative advantages in the areas of its vast landmass, solid road infrastructure network already put in place by his government connecting all zones of the state, solid mineral deposits and tourism.

This was as the governor took part in the signing of an agreement with the AFREXIMBank and Access Bank to enable Oyo State and other states in Nigeria have access to a N500 billion facility for infrastructure development.

Makinde, who pointed out that his government, has, since 2019 when he first assumed office, embarked on a massive infrastructure development drive that has connected all zones of the state, said there are boundless opportunities in the state in the areas of agribusiness, tourism and mining.

He said: “So, in all of these, we are saying, look, investors should come. The major issue that investors may be afraid of, is having a safe and secure environment; I think we have almost passed that hurdle in Oyo State. We are one of the safest states in the country.

“We have invested massively in Security and in terms of a responsive government, I came from a private sector background and I was able to let the investors know that they are coming to a state where government business is handled with a dispatch.”

Makinde maintained that as part of his government’s infrastructure development plan, the first phase of the 110 kilometres Ibadan Circular Road, which is the 32 kilometres connecting the Eastern part of the state, has been progressing well.

He expressed excitement that AFREXIM Bank is engaging directly with sub-nationals, stating that Oyo State would take advantage of the opportunity by using its part of the loan to continue the 110km Ibadan Circular Road and the extension of the Ibadan Airport runway, which is  part of its efforts to have the airport upgraded to an international standard.