…As redeveloped Premier Hotel reopens in Ibadan

By Adeola Badru

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tourism development, regional economic integration and infrastructure renewal, describing the reopening of the remodelled Premier Hotel in Ibadan as evidence of the impact of strategic investment, public-private collaboration and heritage preservation.

Tinubu’s message was delivered on Friday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the commissioning of the hotel.

Akume described the occasion as a milestone for the six South-West states that jointly own Odu’a Investment Company Limited, saying the project demonstrated what could be achieved through vision, collaboration and long-term investment.

Located on Mokola Hill, Premier Hotel has served for decades as a destination for government officials, business leaders, diplomats, scholars and visitors.

“What we are celebrating today is not just the reopening of a hotel, but the restoration of a national icon,” Akume said.

He said the redevelopment highlighted the importance of preserving historic assets while adapting them to meet modern standards.

Akume also commended the governors of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states for supporting the repositioning of Odu’a Investment Company as a regional investment institution.

According to him, the hospitality and tourism sector remains central to the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda under the Renewed Hope programme.

He said investments in transportation infrastructure, airport terminals, digital services and public-private partnerships were aimed at strengthening tourism and related industries.

“Projects such as Premier Hotel create employment opportunities, stimulate local businesses, support cultural tourism, attract visitors and contribute directly to economic growth,” he said.

Akume also highlighted the role of the South-West Development Commission in promoting regional development and economic integration, adding that the commission would work with state governments, Odu’a Investment Company, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission and private investors.

On security, the SGF assured residents that the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to address banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

He specifically said efforts were ongoing to secure the safe release of victims recently abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Akume added that the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms were beginning to produce positive results.

Earlier, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, described the reopening of Premier Hotel as a major milestone in restoring one of Nigeria’s most iconic hospitality establishments.

He said the hotel remained an important symbol of the South-West’s history and development, adding that its rehabilitation followed years of infrastructural decline and changing industry standards.

Babatunde commended Odu’a Investment Company and its private sector partners for restoring the facility.

“We are not merely commissioning a renovated hotel. We are celebrating the restoration of a legacy,” he said.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described the reopening as a landmark in the economic, cultural and political history of the South-West.

He said the redevelopment symbolised resilience, renewal and confidence in the region’s future while preserving an important aspect of its heritage.

Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the project demonstrated that heritage preservation and economic modernisation could go hand in hand.

She described the redevelopment as a strong vote of confidence in the future of tourism, hospitality and investment in the South-West.

Earlier, Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, said the commissioning marked the rebirth of one of Nigeria’s most historic hospitality assets.

He recalled that Premier Hotel, established in 1966 as the Western Region’s flagship hotel, had become one of West Africa’s leading hospitality destinations.

Ashiru said the redevelopment preserved the hotel’s original architectural character while introducing modern facilities and international hospitality standards.

According to him, the project increased the hotel’s accommodation capacity from 87 to 154 luxury rooms and suites, positioning it as a five-star hospitality destination.

He also announced plans to redevelop other Odu’a Investment Company hospitality assets, including Lagos Airport Hotel and Lafia Hotel in Ibadan.

The event attracted government officials, traditional rulers, business leaders, investors and other stakeholders from across the South-West, who described the reopening as a boost to tourism, hospitality and regional economic development.