Makinde Vows to Make Ikere Gorge Dam a Tourist Haven

 

Governor Seyi Makinde has promised that his government will transform Ikere Gorge Dam into a first-class tourism destination on par with the Sun City Resort in South Africa.

Makinde, during a visit to the dam, indicated that his government would quickly repair the 28-kilometre Iseyin-Ikere road to increase the state’s tourism potential.

Governor Makinde also voiced his disgust at the rot and abandonment that has befallen the Federal Government’s hydropower project, saying Nigeria’s resources have been squandered on the project.

However, the governor emphasized that the Oyo State government will put the money to good use in line with his administration’s commitment to always ensure that Oyo residents receive value for resources invested in initiatives.

According to him, the state government can use the water for irrigation, energy generation, and other purposes.

He said: “The road leading to this place is a 28 to 30 kilometres stretch, yet it took us over an hour. Except they fix that road and it is a state road, so we will fix it. We are not only looking at electricity generation here but also the tourism potentials. That is the meat for us; that this may be our own Sun City Resort and we will work towards that.”

“We will do the road like that of Moniya-Iseyin. Then, people can come here to invest in tourism. I am not satisfied with what I have seen here today, as they have wasted Nigerians’ money but whatever we can salvage as Oyo State, we will make the move.”

“This is a project that the turbines and alternators were purchased as far back as 1984 and it is wasted now. You can only use the civil structure. We can use the water for irrigation. There is a valve in there to supply water to a treatment facility, maybe at Iseyin. We can utilize all of that.”