The Oyo State government says that soon, Bowers Tower, a tourist site in Oke-Are, Ibadan, will get a face-lift as an investor has developed interest to rehabilitate the site. The General Manager, Oyo State Tourism Board, Mr Gabriel Asaolu, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, on Thursday. Asaolu said the government and the investor had shown interest to put the site in proper shape and make it more attractive. “The investor is ready to work with the government as she has presented her proposal which has been forwarded to the state government.
“Their partnerships are in progress, in few months’ time and by God’s grace, if the MOU between the investor and the government is favourable, the place will certainly wear a new look. “The site will be developed, there will be good access road, steady water supply, an escalator, etc,” he said.
The manager said that the government was ready to welcome and partner investors to develop tourist sites in the state. “We really need Public Private Partnership, wonderful tourist sites, such as the Cultural centre, Irefin Palace, Mapo Hall, etc, in Oyo State, need to be developed because it (development) will create more revenue and employment. “The work cannot be left for the government alone,” he said.
Asaolu also said that the government was interested in tourism development and was working to ensure that tourist sites in the state were in good condition. “The government wants other tourist sites to be like Agodi Garden; we are not happy to see any of them dilapidated, the development is in progress and gradual,” he said.
NAN reports that the tower is in bad shape and has not been in operation for some years.
